JP2013083494A - Liquid level gauge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid level gauge which supports the work of filling fuel oil into a fuel tank of a ship.SOLUTION: A liquid level gauge includes: a body part 10 which includes a sensor 11 for detecting a liquid level in a tank, a cable 12 having the sensor, and a cable reel 13 for rewinding the cable; and a display 20 for displaying the liquid level in the tank which is detected by the sensor. The body part and the display can communicate with each other via a radio signal, so that the liquid level detected by the sensor is transmitted to the display by the radio signal. The body part and the display operate with each built-in power source.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid level gauge that supports a refueling operation to a fuel tank of a ship.

  When performing a bunkering operation on a ship, it is obliged to measure the amount of fuel present in the fuel tank using a manual sounding tape (commonly called “sounding tape”). This measurement work must be performed before and after the bunkering work.

  The sounding tape is a tape that hangs down from the top of the fuel tank, and measures the liquid level by measuring the position where the fuel is touched. In each fuel tank, a sounding pipe (also referred to as a “sounding pipe”) for hanging the sounding tape is installed from the ceiling of the tank toward the bottom of the tank. Sounding tape is inserted into the depth measuring tube, and the position where the tip touches the fuel is measured (alage measurement). The liquid level can be measured by converting the value measured in this way using a sounding table.

  The measurement work using the sounding tape as described above takes time because it is a manual work. It is necessary to perform this measurement work before and after bunkering and during bunkering, and in order to correct the error caused by the hull swaying, the average value is obtained by measuring multiple times, which is a more time-consuming work. . In addition, at least two people are required, and technology is required to perform accurate measurement.

  If the fuel is replenished too much, it overflows, so measurement during refueling must be performed frequently at intervals of several minutes. Therefore, when refueling a plurality of fuel tanks, much labor is required for the measurement work.

  In order to perform the measurement work during such refueling work efficiently, a level gauge is installed in each fuel tank, and measurements other than the measurements before and after the required refueling work, i.e., replenishment. Measurement in oil may be performed automatically. However, in order to reduce costs, in a cargo ship, a liquid level gauge is usually not installed in each fuel tank, and efficient refueling work is difficult. Also, there is no known liquid level gauge that can be used only during refueling operations and can be used in multiple fuel tanks.

  In order to improve the efficiency of cargo handling work on ships of a certain size or larger, the ballast tank for maintaining the balance by adjusting the weight balance with the load is a liquid level that can grasp the level of ballast water one by one. A meter is equipped. There are various methods for measuring the liquid level gauge. For example, there is a bubble type liquid level gauge as described in Patent Document 1. In addition to this, a pressure-receiving type liquid level gauge that knows the level of ballast water by measuring the pressure at the bottom of the tank is known.

Japanese Patent No. 3992153

  The present invention is easy to carry without being permanently installed. For example, it can easily measure the liquid level even in a ship that is not equipped with a liquid level gauge for a fuel tank, and expands including air. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid level gauge capable of accurately measuring even a fuel and contributing to prevention of overflow.

  The present invention relates to a liquid level gauge, and includes a sensor that detects a liquid level in a tank, a cable in which the sensor is installed, a main body that includes a cable reel that winds the cable, and a tank that is detected by the sensor. The liquid level detected by the sensor is transmitted to the display unit by wireless communication, and the main body unit and the display unit are communicated via wireless signals. The main feature is that it operates with each built-in power supply.

  The cable on which the sensor is installed is portable, and the measurement results can be confirmed even by remote signals using radio signals. The built-in power supply operates the instrument, so the main body of the liquid level gauge can be placed anywhere. It can be carried, and even if a liquid level gauge is not permanently installed in the fuel tank, the bunkering operation can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, the weight installed at the tip of the sensor allows the fuel tank to sink to the bottom of the tank even if the fuel is highly viscous, and avoids measurement errors due to sediment (sludge) that accumulates on the bottom. Even if a liquid level gauge is not installed, the refueling operation can be performed efficiently.

It is a figure which shows notionally the structural example of the measurement system using the liquid level meter which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows the example of the sensor with which the said liquid level gauge is provided. It is a figure which shows the example of the cable cleaner used for the said liquid level gauge.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a liquid level gauge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless liquid level measurement system using a detector main body 10 which is a liquid level meter according to the present invention. The measurement system 100 transmits a radio signal to a detector body 10, a remote display 20 that displays a measured liquid level by receiving a radio signal transmitted from the detector body 10, and a remote location. A relay device 30 for relaying to the receiver, a radio signal receiver 40, and a computer 50 for displaying various information including the liquid level from the radio signal received by the receiver 40.

  The measurement system 100 carries the detector main body 10 in the vicinity of the depth measuring pipe 4 installed in the fuel tank of the ship so that a pressure-type liquid level gauge can be used together for the measurement work at the time of refueling work. Can do. The liquid level measured by the detector main body 10 is received by the remote display 20 by the radio signal transmitted from the detector main body 10 and the liquid level as a measurement result is displayed, so that the installation of the detector main body 10 is performed. It can also be known in a place away from the place and in a control room away from the measurement point.

  The detector body 10 includes a sensor 11 that is a pressure detector, a cable 12 on which the sensor 11 is installed at the tip, a cable reel 13 for winding the cable 12, and the pressure detected by the sensor 11. A display 14 that calculates and displays the position and transmits the liquid level as a radio signal.

  The detector body 10 is portable so that it can be carried to any place, and a battery is built in as a power source necessary for the operation of each part. The remote display 20 also has a built-in battery. Both the detector main body 10 and the remote display 20 are operated by batteries incorporated therein.

  The cable 12 is inserted into the depth measuring tube 4 from the sensor 11 side. As described above, the depth measuring tube 4 is provided so as to hang down from the top 5 of the tank to the bottom 1 of the tank in order to suspend the sounding tape, and the depth measurement is performed to the same level as the level of the liquid 3 in the tank. Holes are arranged in the peripheral wall so that the liquid enters the inside of the tube 4. The inner diameter of the depth measuring tube 4 is determined by a classification rule so as to be 32 to 65 mm, and is large enough to insert the sensor 11 and the cable 12.

  The indicator 14 installed on the side surface of the cable reel 13 of the detector body 10 calculates and displays the liquid level based on the pressure detected by the sensor 11. Since the specific gravity is used as a coefficient to calculate the liquid level from the pressure, the display unit 14 has a function of setting a specific gravity coefficient corresponding to the type of fuel to be measured in advance by a predetermined operation.

  Next, the sensor 11 will be described. FIG. 2 is a side view of the sensor 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor 11 is a cylindrical member installed at the tip of the cable 12. When the sensor 11 collides with a cable cleaner 15, which will be described later, around the connection point between the cable 12 and the sensor 11. A protective member 112 is installed to reduce the generated impact. The protection member 112 is made of a member having elasticity.

  A pressure sensor 113 is provided at the tip of the sensor 11. The pressure sensor 113 measures the pressure at the bottom position of the fuel tank, so that the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank can be measured. A weight 111 is installed at the tip of the pressure sensor 113. The lower part of the weight 111 is a member having a substantially conical outer shape with a thin lower end, and is used to suspend the pressure sensor 113 to the bottom 1 of the tank with respect to the fuel 3 having high viscosity.

  Further, the weight 111 has another function. Deposits (sludge 2) are deposited on the bottom 1 of the tank. If the pressure sensor 113 is buried in the sludge 2, accurate pressure measurement cannot be performed. Therefore, the weight 111 has a predetermined height so that the pressure sensor 113 is not buried in the sludge 2. The weight 111 can prevent the pressure sensor 113 from being buried in the sludge 2 even when the pressure sensor 113 reaches the bottom 1 of the fuel tank.

  When the weight 111 gets on the sludge 2, an error occurs in the measured liquid level. As described above, the lower portion of the weight 111 is formed into a conical shape with a thin lower end, and the weight 111 is submerged in the sludge 2, It reaches the bottom 1 of.

  As described above, the liquid level gauge according to the present invention can be easily carried even without a permanent installation, and can easily measure the liquid level even in a ship not equipped with a fuel tank level gauge.

  Further, since the liquid level gauge according to the present invention uses a pressure sensor, the liquid level can be accurately measured even when the fuel to be measured is inflated with air. Accordingly, it is possible to contribute to prevention of overflow without frequently performing manual liquid level measurement during the bunkering operation.

  Next, an example of a cable cleaner used in the liquid level gauge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3A is a front view of the cable cleaner 15, FIG. 3B is a side view of the cable cleaner 15, and FIG. 3C is a top view of the cable cleaner 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the cable cleaner 15 includes a spiral member 151, an L-shaped member 152, a main body member 153, a lid 154, and a belt through hole 155.

The spiral member 151 is a wire having a spiral shape at the tip, and is made of a hard material such as iron. The inner diameter of the spiral portion is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the cable 12, and the cable 12 is used through the inner diameter side of the spiral portion. When starting the measurement operation, the cable 12 is fitted into the spiral portion so as to be slid from the side surface, and the cable 12 is installed so as to pass through the spiral portion.
For this reason, the pitch of the spiral portion is such that the cable 12 can be fitted inside. Further, the number of turns of the spiral portion is as small as about two.

  The L-shaped member 152 is a member that fixes the spiral member 151 and is made of a metal having a L-shaped cross section. The main body member 153 is a member having a substantially semi-cylindrical outer shape for installing the cable cleaner 15 at the upper end portion of the depth measuring tube 4. A substantially semicircular lid 154 is fixed to the main body member 153. An L-shaped member 152 is fixed to the approximate center of the lid 154 serving as the top plate.

  A belt through hole 155 through which a belt for fixing the cable cleaner 15 to the upper end portion of the depth measuring tube 4 passes is provided on the outer wall of the main body 153.

  Next, a procedure for measuring the liquid level of the fuel 3 during the refueling operation using the detector body 10 will be described. Since the detector main body 10 can be carried, it is carried on a fuel tank for refueling work, the cable 12 is unwound from the cable reel 13, and the cable 12 is passed through the cable cleaner 15. The sensor 11 installed at the tip of the cable 12 is inserted into the depth measuring tube 4, and the cable cleaner 15 is placed over the upper end portion of the depth measuring tube 4. The cable cleaner 15 can be fixed to the upper end portion of the depth measuring tube 4 by winding a belt (not shown) passed through the belt passage hole 155 around the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the depth measuring tube 4 and fixing it.

  The cable 12 fed out from the cable reel 13 is inserted until the weight 111 of the sensor 11 reaches the bottom 1 of the tank. The amount of fuel 3 in the tank can be calculated based on the pressure detected by the sensor 11 with the weight 111 reaching the bottom 1 of the tank, and the liquid level can be measured.

  After the measurement work is finished, the cable 12 is wound up by the cable reel 13. Since the fuel 3 is a liquid having a high viscosity, as the cable 12 is wound up, it adheres to the outer skin of the cable 12 and rises together.

  Since the cable 12 is inserted into the spiral member 151 of the cable cleaner 5, the outer skin to which the fuel 3 is attached is rubbed and peeled off by the spiral member 151. The peeled fuel 3 drops from the spiral member 151 and returns to the fuel tank. Since a trace amount of fuel is attached to the outer sheath of the cable 12 coming out of the depth measuring tube 4, it is wound around the cable reel 13 while wiping it off with a cloth or the like. At this time, since the cable cleaner 5 is fixed to the depth measuring tube 4 by a belt (not shown), the cable cleaner 5 does not move with the winding of the cable.

  Thus, according to the embodiment using the cable cleaner in the liquid level gauge according to the present invention, in the cable winding work after the measurement work, it was necessary to wipe off a large amount of fuel with a cloth if normal. Simultaneously with the winding operation, the adhered fuel can be dropped into the tank, so that the measurement operation can be made more efficient.

4 depth measuring tube 10 detector body 11 sensor 12 cable 13 cable reel 14 indicator 15 cable cleaner 111 weight 112 protective member 113 pressure sensor 151 spiral member 152 L-shaped member 153 body member 154 lid 155 belt through hole

Claims (7)

A sensor for detecting the liquid level in the tank, a cable in which the sensor is installed, a main body unit including a cable reel for winding the cable, and a display for displaying the liquid level in the tank detected by the sensor A liquid level gauge having
The main body and the display can communicate with each other through a wireless signal, and the liquid level detected by the sensor is transmitted to the display through the wireless communication.
The main body and the indicator are operated by respective built-in power supplies. The tip of the sensor is provided with a weight that sinks the sensor into the liquid,
The liquid level gauge according to claim 1, wherein the weight has a height that prevents the sensor from being buried in a deposit deposited on a bottom of the tank.   The liquid level gauge according to claim 2, wherein the lower portion of the weight has a conical shape with a thin lower end.   The liquid level gauge according to claim 1, further comprising a cable cleaner that removes the liquid adhering to the cable when the cable is wound around the cable reel.   The liquid level gauge according to claim 4, wherein the cable cleaner has a spiral member that comes into contact with an outer skin of the cable. The cable cleaner includes a spiral member that contacts an outer skin of the cable;
A main body for installing the spiral member on the tank;
The liquid level gauge according to claim 4, further comprising: a fixing member that fixes the main body to a depth measuring tube installed in the tank.   The liquid level gauge according to claim 4, wherein the sensor has a protective member that protects the front end portion of the cable cleaner on the outer periphery of the connection end with the cable.

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