JP2578919Y2 - Liquid level gauge - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid level gauge, such as an oil level gauge for an engine, for externally checking a liquid level in a liquid reservoir, that is, a liquid amount.
In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid level gauge in which a protection cylinder into which a test solution rod is inserted is formed in a curved shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows an example of a conventional liquid level gauge, which is an oil level gauge of an engine. In FIG. 5, an oil sump 2 such as an oil pan is provided at a lower portion of a crankcase 1 of an engine, and a test liquid port 5 opening diagonally upward on a side wall 2a of the oil sump 2.
Are formed. A protective cylinder 6 of a liquid level gauge is connected to the test liquid port 5 in an inclined manner, and the protective cylinder 6 extends upward while being curved.

[0006] The test solution rod 8 which is inserted into and removed from the protective tube 6 has a gauge portion 12 integrally formed at the tip of a long flexible metal strip 10. 7
Is a plate-like member obtained by extending the band plate 10 as it is, in which an upper limit score line H and a lower limit score line L are formed, and knurling is performed in a mesh shape.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 5, the protection cylinder 6 is formed in a curved shape in order to make the outer peripheral portion of the crankcase 1 compact, and as a sample rod 8, a flexible strip 10. Is used to allow the test solution rod 8 to bend to allow insertion into the curved protective cylinder 6 and to be brought into contact with the side wall 2a or the inner peripheral wall of the protective cylinder 6 so as to achieve a predetermined insertion posture. It is fixed. As a related technique, there is JP-A-58-187814.

[0006]

The bending of the band plate 10 is restricted so as to bend only in the direction perpendicular to the wide plane of the band plate 10, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. When the rod 8 is inserted into the protective cylinder 6 in FIG. 5, the band plate 10 bends according to the curved shape of the protective cylinder 6, the plane of the tip gauge section 12 becomes substantially perpendicular to the paper surface, and is immersed in the liquid in an inclined posture.

[0007] When the test rod 8 is inserted as described above, the strip 10 is bent and the gauge portion 12 is immersed in the liquid in an inclined manner, and as shown in FIG. The gauge surfaces 12A and 12B are inclined with respect to the oil level P of the oil. That is, the front gauge surface 12A is inclined at an angle θ1, and the rear gauge surface 12B is θ2 = 180 °
−θ1 Inclined.

However, in the state as shown in FIG. 6, the position of the liquid mark adhering to the back gauge surface 12B becomes higher than the position of the liquid mark adhering to the front gauge surface 12A due to surface tension. When the rod 8 is pulled out of the protective cylinder 6 and visually checked, it is difficult to determine which is the true liquid level.

Further, since the gauge portion 12 is formed on the same plane as the band plate 10, when the test solution rod 8 is inserted and removed, the back side gauge surface 12B directly rubs against the inner peripheral surface of the protective tube 6, and The mark is disturbed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid level gauge capable of clearly measuring a liquid amount and having high measurement accuracy.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is directed to a liquid pool 2
A cylindrical test port 5 which is opened at the lower end of the side wall 2a so as to contain the lower limit liquid level L and is formed so as to always store liquid at the same height as the liquid pool and extend obliquely upward. Liquid mouth 5
Protection tube 6 connected to the terminal and extending upward in a two-dimensional curved shape
And a test rod 8 formed of a flexible strip 10 and removably inserted into and removed from the protective cylinder 6 so that the tip gauge section 12 is immersed in the liquid. The strip 10 includes a strip-shaped gauge section 12 on the tip side,
A strip-shaped extension portion D longer than the gauge portion 12 and twisted at a substantially right angle to the gauge portion 12 is integrally formed so as to bend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the extension portion D as a whole. The length of the test rod 8 is set so that the gauge portion 12 stops inside the test port 5 when the test rod 8 is attached.
Is inserted into the protective cylinder 6 so that the plane width direction of the extension part D is parallel to the liquid surface, and the gauge surface of the gauge part 12 is perpendicular to the liquid surface. Gauge section 12
The lower edge of the plane width direction of the abutment comes into contact with the lower inner peripheral surface of the test solution port 5, so that the gauge surface is immersed in the liquid in the test solution port 5 in a vertical posture, and the extension portion D A liquid level gauge characterized by maintaining a curved state corresponding to two-dimensional bending.

[0012]

When the test rod is inserted into the protective tube, the extension D of the test rod 8 shown in FIG. Since the distal gauge section 12 is bent and inserted in the same direction as the curved shape of the protective cylinder 6, the tip gauge section 12 is immersed in the liquid with the flat gauge surfaces 12A and 12B perpendicular to the liquid surface. Therefore, the liquid mark adheres to the same position on both the front and back gauge surfaces of the gauge portion 12, and there is almost no difference even if the liquid amount is confirmed on either the front or back gauge surface.

When the test solution rod is withdrawn, the gauge surface is formed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the band plate. Does not rub against the protective cylinder, and the adhered liquid mer does not disturb.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a liquid level gauge for checking the oil of an engine, that is, an oil level gauge. Parts having the same names as those of the conventional example of FIG. , Are denoted by the same reference numerals.

An oil reservoir 2 is provided at the lower part of the crankcase 1, and a cylindrical test port 5 which opens diagonally upward is formed on a side wall 2 a of the oil reservoir 2. The lower end of the protection cylinder 6 of the liquid level gauge is fitted on the inner peripheral surface. An O-ring 7 is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the protective cylinder 6 and the inner peripheral surface of the test solution port 5. The protection cylinder 6 extends upward while bending, and is supported by the crankcase 1 by stays and brackets (not shown). Protection tube 6
Has a circular cross section.

The test solution rod 8 which can be inserted into and removed from the protective tube 6 is composed of a long strip 10 made of metal, a seal portion 16 having a head side flange 17 and a knob 18. Reference numeral 10 denotes a distal end-side gauge portion 12 and an extension portion D. Further, the extension portion D is configured to be sufficiently longer than the gauge portion 12.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a single unit of the test rod 8, and the seal part 16, the collar 17 and the knob 18 on the head are
For example, it is integrally formed of rubber and has an iron core 20 for fixing the band plate. The sealing portion 16 has a circular cross-section and has a bellows-like surface in order to improve the sealing function.

The strip plate 10 is fixed at its base end to the iron core 20 by rivets or the like. Gauge part 1 at the end of the strip
2 is formed integrally with the band plate 10, but in FIG. 4, the flat front and rear gauge surfaces 12A and 12B are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the band plate 10 (the same plane as the paper surface of FIG. 4). It is twisted so that it becomes. That is, it is formed integrally with the band plate 10 via the twist portion 21 having a twist of 90 °, and is separated from the flexible band plate extension portion D.

Both the front and back gauge surfaces 12A, 1 of the gauge portion 12
As shown in FIG. 3, an upper limit line H and a lower limit line L are formed in 2B, knurling is performed in a mesh shape, and a central portion in the width direction of the gauge surface 12A is formed on the central portion in the width direction. A plurality of small marks 23 are formed at predetermined intervals in the length direction. The small hole 23 on the tip side is located on the cut line L for the lower limit,
The small hole 23 on the opposite side is formed on the upper limit marking line H. The tip edge of the gauge portion 12 is formed in an arc shape or has an appropriate roundness.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the test rod 8 is inserted. Since the band plate 10 bends only in a direction perpendicular to its plane, the band plate extension portion D At a position that can bend substantially along the curved shape. In other words, when the protective cylinder 6 is curved in the plane of the paper of FIG. 1, it is inserted in such a manner that the plane of the strip extension D of the band 10 is perpendicular to the plane of the paper of FIG.

Accordingly, the gauge portion 12 necessarily has the front and rear gauge surfaces 12A and 12B on the same plane as the paper surface of FIG. 1 and is perpendicular to the liquid surface (horizontal plane) P.

When the test rod 8 is mounted, the rubber seal 16 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of the protective cylinder 6 at a constant pressure, and the strip 10 is fitted to the strip extension D. And extends to the test solution port 5 while bending in the same direction as the protection cylinder 6,
Is immersed in the liquid in a state where it is inclined along the inclination of the test liquid port 5 and the gauge surfaces 12A and 12B are in a posture perpendicular to the liquid surface P.

In the operation of pulling out the test rod 8 to check the liquid volume, the gauge surfaces 12A and 12B are kept in the same plane as the paper surface of FIG.
Is that the edge in the width direction only rubs against the inner peripheral surface of the protective cylinder 6, and the gauge surfaces 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B themselves do not rub against the inner peripheral surface of the protective cylinder 6.

After removing the test rod 8, the gauge surface 12A
Or, when looking at 12B, the oil mark M as shown in FIG. 2 is attached to both gauge surfaces 12A and 12B at the same position, and a reading difference between both surfaces hardly occurs.

The oil mark M is inclined with respect to the gauge portion 12 as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the center of the gauge surface 12A (12B) is determined based on the presence or absence of oil in the small hole 23 as a guide. Check the position of the oil mark M on the line C.

After the test solution, when the oil adhering to the gauge portion 12 is wiped off and inserted again into the protection cylinder 6, the test solution rod 8 is connected to the protection cylinder 6 by the band plate extension D as described above. It is inserted in the same direction as the curved shape. As the test rod 8 is inserted, the widthwise edge of the gauge portion 12 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the protective cylinder 6 or the crankcase side wall 2a.
The strip extension D of the strip 10 bends in the same direction as the protection cylinder 6.

[0027]

[Other Embodiments] (1) In FIG. 1, the gauge plate 12 is formed integrally by twisting the strip 10 by 90 °.
May be fixed to the strip 10 by welding or the like.

(2) In addition to checking the oil in the oil pan of the engine, it can also be used as a level gauge for testing liquid in various liquid tanks.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a liquid level gauge having a curved protection cylinder, a test strip is provided with a flexible band plate, and provided at the tip of the band plate. As the gauge portion, a strip-shaped gauge portion having a gauge surface substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strip plate is formed, so that the strip plate of the test solution rod is curved into a shape corresponding to the curved shape of the protective cylinder. When it is inserted while being inserted, both the front and back gauge surfaces of the gauge section are immersed in the liquid in a state substantially perpendicular to the liquid surface, and the liquid marks remain at the same positions on both the gauge surfaces. Therefore, the true liquid amount can be easily and accurately determined.

Further, since the gauge surface of the gauge portion is a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the band plate, it becomes a plane that spreads in the same direction as the bending direction of the band plate.
The edge in the width direction of the gauge surface contacts the inner peripheral surface of the protection cylinder, and the gauge surface itself does not contact. Therefore, the liquid mark is not disturbed during the insertion / removal operation, and the accuracy of the test solution is improved. The features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail. Instead of devising a single test rod, a cylindrical test port 5 formed on the side wall 2a of the liquid reservoir 2 and a protective tube connected to the test port 5 are described. 6 and a test solution rod 8 which is inserted into and removed from the protective tube 6
This is a device relating to a liquid level gauge composed of a combination of the above, wherein the test liquid port 5 is opened at a position including the lower limit liquid level L, and the liquid at the same height as the liquid pool is always stored. Under the condition that it extends obliquely upward in a curved shape, the shape, characteristics, and mounting posture of the test solution rod 8 are characterized in relation to the shape and the like of the test solution port 5 and the protective cylinder 6. (A) The test solution rod 8 has a two-dimensional curved shape such that the plane width direction of the extension portion D is parallel to the liquid surface and the gauge surface of the gauge portion 12 is perpendicular to the liquid surface. The length of the test solution rod 8 is such that the gauge surface stops in the test solution port 5 at the time of mounting, and the length of the protection tube 6 or at the time of insertion and mounting of the test solution rod. Since only the lower edge of the gauge section 12 in the plane width direction is in contact with the test liquid port 5, the liquid adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the test liquid port at the time of insertion or withdrawal adheres to the gauge surface and is detected. The liquid precision does not decrease, and the gauge surface is firmly fixed in a vertical position to the test liquid port by utilizing the elasticity of the extension, and does not swing due to vibration, and the test liquid precision is stabilized. (B) When the test solution rod is mounted, the entire test solution rod is inserted obliquely in a curved shape substantially along the protective tube 6, but the gauge surface is maintained perpendicular to the liquid surface. The liquid level can be accurately detected without being affected by surface tension. (C) When the test solution rod is attached, the test solution rod 8 is substantially supported at both ends at the lower end gauge portion 12 and the upper end of the protection tube inlet portion, and the middle corresponds to the two-dimensional bending of the protection tube. Since it is curved, a guide or the like at an intermediate portion is not required, and a sufficient gap can be provided between the extension portion D of the test solution rod 8 and the protective cylinder 6, so that the insertion resistance of the test solution rod due to bending can be reduced. Further, by the support at both ends, the stability against the vibration described in the above (a) is favorably maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a liquid level gauge to which the present invention is applied, and is a longitudinal sectional view showing an oil level gauge of an engine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a gauge section of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a single unit of the test solution rod shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional liquid level gauge.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a gauge section of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a single unit of the test rod shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Oil reservoir 5 Test solution port 6 Protective cylinder 8 Test solution rod 10 Strip plate 12 Gauge part 12A, 12B Gauge surface

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An opening is formed at a lower end of a side wall (2a) of a liquid reservoir (2) so as to include a lower limit liquid level L so that a liquid having the same height as the liquid reservoir is always stored and extends obliquely upward. Cylindrical test port (5), a protective tube (6) connected to the test port (5) and extending upward in a two-dimensional curve, and a flexible strip (10)
And a liquid level gauge comprising a test rod (8), which is formed at the same time and is freely inserted into and removed from the protective tube (6), and the tip gauge portion (12) is immersed in the liquid. Strip (10)
Is integrated with a strip-shaped gauge portion (12) on the distal end side and a strip-shaped extension portion (D) longer than the gauge portion (12) and twisted substantially at right angles to the gauge portion (12). And the extension D as a whole
It is designed to bend in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the test solution, the length of the test solution rod (8) is set so that the gauge part (12) stops in the test solution port (5) when mounted, The test rod (8) is an extension (D)
Insert the protective tube (6) so that the plane width direction of the gauge is parallel to the liquid surface and the gauge surface of the gauge part (12) is perpendicular to the liquid surface. The lower edge of the plane width direction of the portion (12) abuts on the lower inner peripheral surface of the test port (5), so that the gauge surface is immersed in the liquid in the test port (5) in a vertical posture, A liquid level gauge characterized in that the extension (D) is maintained in a curved state corresponding to the two-dimensional curvature of the protective tube (6).