JP2722323B2 - Constant liquid level - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a constant leveling device mainly used for controlling the amount of fuel supplied to a combustor for burning a kerosene or an oil stove.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When supplying fuel to a combustor by utilizing a natural head or by pumping a pump, the head is made constant,
Alternatively, a constant level device is used to keep the pumping capacity of the pump constant. However, as shown in FIG. 5, this type of conventional leveling device has a valve c facing an inlet b of a container a with a float d.
A liquid level sensor (e.g., kerosene oil level) in the container a is controlled by opening and closing in conjunction with the liquid level control, or a liquid level sensor e having a built-in reed switch as shown in FIG. The sensor e controls opening and closing of the solenoid valve f facing the inlet b of the container a to control the amount of kerosene supplied to the combustor. G indicates a safety liquid level sensor that closes the solenoid valve f when the oil level rises above a certain level.

[0003]

However, this one is
When the container a is tilted as shown by a chain line in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the tilt of the combustor, the valve c or the solenoid valve f cannot be controlled, and the liquid level cannot be controlled. An object of the present invention is to obtain a constant level device free of such a problem.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve such an object, the present invention surrounds a valve provided at an inlet of a constant level container so that a spring force when heated to a temperature above a fixed point temperature is increased. A coil spring made of a changing memory alloy is mounted, and the mounting position of the coil spring on the valve is a position where the coil spring repeatedly repeats a state in which the coil spring is exposed from the liquid and a state in which the coil spring is exposed from the liquid due to a change in the liquid level in the constant level container. In addition, the coil spring is energized in synchronization with a combustion start operation.

[0005]

The temperature of the shape memory alloy rises when the electric current is supplied in conjunction with the combustion start operation. However, when the shape memory alloy is immersed in a liquid, for example, kerosene, the temperature is taken away by the kerosene, and the temperature rise does not reach the transformation point temperature. Therefore, the valve is the spring force of the coil spring made of the shape memory alloy or
The valve is kept closed by the spring force of the bias spring.
However, when the kerosene in the container is consumed and the amount of kerosene in the container is reduced, and the shape memory alloy is exposed from the kerosene liquid surface, the temperature deprived of the shape memory alloy is significantly reduced. For this reason,
The valve is opened by a change in the spring force of the coil spring made of the shape memory alloy. For this reason, kerosene is supplied into the container via the inflow port.

[0006]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 in the figure
Denotes an oil stove, and the oil stove 1 includes a pot-type burner 2 and an air chamber 3 surrounding the pot-type burner. Kerosene from an oil tank 4 is supplied to the pot-type burner 2 via a constant level unit 5. Fuel is supplied, and combustion air is supplied to the air chamber 3 via a blower 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes an ignition heater provided in the pot type burner 2.

The present invention encloses a valve 10 provided at an inlet 9 of a container 8 of a constant level unit 5, and a coil made of a shape memory alloy whose spring force changes when heated above a transformation point temperature. A spring is attached, and the opening and closing of the inflow port 9 is controlled by the coil spring 11. To explain this, the coil spring 11 made of the shape memory alloy becomes in oil by a change in the oil level in the container 8. The valve 10 is mounted so as to surround the outer peripheral position of the valve 10 that repeats the state of being exposed, and the coil spring 11 made of the shape memory alloy is energized in synchronization with the combustion start operation. It should be noted that the position at which the state of being exposed in the oil and the state of being exposed therefrom due to the change in the oil level is repeated, even when the coil spring 11 made of the shape memory alloy is not completely exposed from the liquid level when the liquid level is lowered. Any position may be used as long as the amount of temperature escape from the coil spring 11 to the liquid is small and the temperature can quickly reach the transformation point temperature or higher.

1 and 2 will be described in detail. An opening provided in an annular valve seat 13 provided on an inner peripheral surface of a valve housing 12 provided in the container 8 is defined as the inflow port 9. The flange 10b is projected from the valve rod 10a of the valve 10,
A coil spring 11 made of a one-way shape memory alloy that generates a spring force when the temperature rises above the transformation point temperature is mounted between the upper surface of the flange 10b and the upper surface of the flange 10b and the lower surface of the top plate of the container 8. 8a and bias spring 14
When the coil spring 11 exceeds the transformation point temperature, the spring force of the coil spring 11
The valve 10 was opened by overcoming the spring force of No. 4. Specifically, as the coil spring 11, a wire diameter of 0, 7 made of a NiTi alloy whose transformation point temperature is set to approximately 50 degrees Celsius is used.
Use one with a diameter of 5 mm and a winding diameter of about 6 mm.

The electric power supplied in conjunction with the combustion start operation is, for example, a commercial power
The voltage is reduced to about volts, and the power consumption is used at about 1 watt. 16 is an air hole provided in the container 8, 17 is a container 8
A kerosene outlet 18 is provided on the secondary side of the transformer 15 and is a switch which opens upon sensing a certain or more earthquake shake.

The operation of this embodiment will be described. When the coil spring 11 made of a shape memory alloy is energized in conjunction with the combustion start operation, the temperature of the coil spring 11 rises. However, when the coil spring 11 is immersed in kerosene, the temperature is deprived to the kerosene side, and the temperature rise does not reach the transformation point temperature. Therefore, the valve 10 is connected to the bias spring 14
The valve is kept closed by the spring force of. However, the container 8
When the amount of kerosene in the inside is reduced and the coil spring 11 is exposed from the oil surface of the kerosene, the temperature taken from the coil spring 11 is significantly reduced. Therefore, the coil spring 11 reaches the transformation point temperature and opens the valve 10 with the spring force of the coil spring 11 against the spring force of the bias spring 14. For this reason, the container 8
Kerosene is supplied to the inside through an inlet 9. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a bidirectional coil spring 11 made of the shape memory alloy is used. To explain this, a coil spring 11 made of a shape memory alloy is interposed between a valve housing 12 and a flange 10b provided on a valve rod 10a of the valve 10. If the coil spring 11 made of a shape memory alloy is energized in conjunction with the combustion start operation, the coil spring 11 is in the liquid and the temperature is taken away by the liquid. When the valve 10 is closed by the tensile force and the coil spring 11 is exposed from the oil surface of the kerosene, the temperature taken from the coil spring 11 is significantly reduced, and when the coil spring 11 is heated to the transformation point temperature or more and stretches, the spring force is The valve 10 is opened.

A coil spring 11 made of a shape memory alloy
In some cases, the material shrinks when heated above the transformation point temperature and expands below the transformation point temperature. When such a coil spring 11 is used, as shown in FIG. 4, the valve 10 comes into contact with the lower surface of a valve seat 13 provided in a valve housing 12 and the inflow port 9 is used.
If the coil spring 11 made of the shape memory alloy is mounted between the flange 10b provided on the zero valve rod 10a and the valve housing 12, the opening and closing of the valve 10 can be controlled in the same manner as described above. In the case shown in FIG. 4, a screw 10c is applied to the valve rod 10a,
0b was screwed in, the flange 10b was screwed in, and the valve 10 was pressed against the valve seat 13.

The coil spring 11 made of a shape memory alloy
In all of the above-mentioned embodiments, if the energization to the coil spring 11 is stopped, the valve is always kept in a closed state, so that it is safe, and compared with the conventional example in which a float is provided. The number of parts is small, it is inexpensive, and it can be formed small with few failures. Further, in the above embodiment, the constant liquid level device according to the present invention is used for a heater for burning kerosene. However, this can also be used for a carburetor of an automobile engine.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the coil spring made of a shape memory alloy is energized, and only when the coil spring rises above the transformation point temperature due to the energization, the flow of the liquid in the constant level container is increased. Since the valve provided at the inlet is opened, the valve is not opened due to the inclination of the constant level surface container or other external force, so that the safety is enhanced and the valve is controlled to be opened and closed by a coil spring made of a shape memory alloy. Therefore, the structure can be obtained simply and inexpensively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cut-away side view of a main part of another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cut-away side view of a main part of still another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 Constant liquid level 8 Container
Reference Signs List 9 inflow port 10 valve 11 coil spring made of shape memory alloy 12 valve housing 13 valve seat 14 bias spring 15 transformer

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coil spring made of a memory alloy whose spring force changes when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a fixed point temperature is attached to a valve provided at an inlet of a constant level container, and a valve of the coil spring is provided. The mounting position of the coil spring is such that the coil spring repeatedly repeats a state in which the coil spring is exposed from the liquid and a state in which the coil spring is exposed from the liquid due to a change in the liquid level in the constant level container, and energizes the coil spring in conjunction with a combustion start operation. A liquid leveling device characterized in that: