JP2895927B2 - Device for detecting remaining amount in filled containers - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a residual amount detecting device in a paint container, a high-pressure gas cylinder, a pressurized container, and other filling containers. The present invention relates to a device for detecting a remaining amount in a filling container arranged at a location having a mark.

`` Prior art '' Conventionally, for example, in a painting operation using a spray gun, continuous painting is performed while guiding paint stored in a pressurized tank to a spray gun with a paint hose, but the paint is sealed. In addition, since it is stored in a pressurized container, it cannot be seen from the outside, and coating failure often occurs due to lack of paint.

In order to solve such a drawback, various paint supply apparatuses provided with a detecting means for detecting the remaining paint amount in the container have been proposed.

For example, in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-17962, two electrode rods are immersed and inserted directly into the paint in a paint container, and the change in capacitance between the electrode rods changes in proportion to the paint level change. And the remaining amount is detected.

However, in such prior art, since the electrode rod is directly immersed and inserted in a highly adhesive paint, the paint remains on the electrode rod even if the paint level drops below the electrode rod, A detection error as if the paint is present at that level easily occurs due to the attached paint.

In order to solve such a drawback, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-9967 does not adopt a structure in which the detection unit is brought into direct contact with the paint, but captures a change in the weight of the paint container, which changes in proportion to a change in the paint level, as a spring displacement. There has been disclosed a technique for detecting a remaining amount of a spring displacement by using an electric detector such as a limit switch or a photoelectric tube.

In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-7654, there is also a technique in which a change in weight of the paint container is electrically detected by a load detector such as a load cell.

However, in order to adopt a detection configuration using electricity in any of the above-described prior arts, particularly when using a highly flammable paint such as a solvent-containing paint, there is a danger of a flammable explosion during the detection operation. Therefore, it is necessary to make the device have an explosion-proof structure, which inevitably leads to an increase in size and cost of the device.

In order to solve such a drawback, the present inventor previously provided a bellows chamber for receiving the load of the container at the bottom of the container,
There has been proposed a paint container remaining amount display device characterized in that oil or the like is hydraulically filled between the bellows chamber and the remaining amount indicator through a hose. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-26652) "Problem to be Solved by the Invention" However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the hydraulic pressure is used, the amount of expansion of the hydraulic pressure varies depending on the length of the hose. It is difficult to perform accurate measurement because the amount of expansion of the fluid pressure also changes due to deterioration of the pressure.

Also, in the painting work, even if oil adheres to the surface to be painted or oil is mixed in the paint, it is extremely problematic to use oil which is a major factor of poor painting at the painting work site, especially As described above, in the device in which the oil pressure is sealed, it is necessary to periodically replace the hose and the bellows chamber due to deterioration of the oil expansion of the hose as described above, and it is unavoidable that oil leaks from the hose at the time of the replacement. In addition, a part of the leaked oil adheres to the non-painted surface or mixes into the paint, resulting in poor painting.

In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention accurately and surely deteriorates the accuracy over time in an apparatus that enables indirect measurement without employing an electrical detection method and without bringing a detection unit into contact with paint. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remaining amount display device which does not cause any problem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remaining amount display device which facilitates maintenance, does not use oil or the like, and does not cause painting defects or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is that no danger of fire occurs even in a place where an organic solvent is used, such as a painting site,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a remaining amount display device which is extremely preferable in terms of safety because a fail-safe mechanism works even if an operation is erroneously performed.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention receives a load of a filling container that changes in proportion to the increase or decrease of paint and other fillers, converts the primary pressure of gas to convert the primary pressure proportional to the load change. A gas pressure generating means for generating a secondary pressure lower than the pressure is provided at the bottom of the container or a portion where the container is suspended, or the like, and is proportional to a load change of the filling container output from the gas pressure generating means. It is characterized in that a change in the secondary pressure is captured to detect the remaining amount in the filling container.

In the embodiment described later, a pressure receiving element is fitted to the cap portion of the conventional diaphragm pressure reducing valve so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the pressure of the container can be received through the pressure receiving element. The gas pressure generating means is not limited to this.

When the gas pressure generating means is arranged at the bottom of the container,
Accurate measurement may not always be difficult due to wobbling of the container.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a cantilever support for the filled container and the gas pressure generating means disposed on the free end side of the cantilever support to accurately and reliably detect the load of the container. Is possible.

Further, the means for capturing the change in the secondary pressure is not limited to a pressure display means such as a Pourdon tube, but may be a detector that converts the pressure change into an electric signal, and further may sound an alarm based on the electric signal. It also includes piezoelectric control means for automatically supplying paint.

The gas is generally air, but is not limited thereto. For example, nitrogen may be used.

Further, the filling container to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the paint container alone, but a gas cylinder, a pressurized container or other closed container in which the remaining amount in the container is not visible at all from the outside, is visible from above, but is separated from the container. Includes open containers and the like where it is difficult to detect the remaining amount in the container at the work position because the work is performed at the position.

According to the technical means, in order to detect a remaining amount by converting a change in the load of the container into a secondary pressure of a gas, particularly air, the hydraulic pressure is used even if the secondary pressure is guided through a hose. As in the case, pressure fluctuation does not occur due to hose expansion or the like, and accurate measurement can be performed regardless of the hose length.

Also, since air is used, there is no deterioration of the hose with the passage of time, and even if there is no air leakage even if the hose is deteriorated, there is no room for a decrease in accuracy with the passage of time, and the hose is kept high for a long time. Accuracy can be maintained.

Furthermore, since gas, particularly nitrogen or air, is used, even if it leaks to the outside, it does not have any adverse effect on on-site work such as painting, and there is no room for safety and poor painting.

Furthermore, since the gas as the secondary pressure can be freely discharged to the outside, maintenance is also facilitated.

In addition, it is possible to take out the electric output without using explosion proof by using a hose etc. to guide it to a position far away from the mounting position of the container, and even in that case the gas itself has insulation properties unlike oil Therefore, the control can be performed without a risk of electric leakage or the like.

It should be noted that with the configuration including only the gas pressure generating means, it is impossible to adjust the weight of each container or adjust the lower limit level of the contents.

Therefore, in the invention described in claim 2, as shown in FIG. 2, an urging force adjusting means capable of receiving the load of the container is provided together with the gas pressure generating means, and the gas pressure generating means is provided by the urging force adjusting means. A technique is proposed in which the means is capable of adjusting the container load received by the means.

 As a result, the lower limit level and the zero point can be adjusted.

Further, in the configuration for receiving the container load, when a paint or the like is suddenly put into the container, or when an external load such as sitting on the container is urged, the pressure display section and the like overflows, and for example, the pullon type pressure is applied. In some cases, breakage or abnormal deterioration may occur due to the needle rising of the meter.

Therefore, in the invention according to claim 3, a relief valve that is opened when the secondary pressure rises to a predetermined pressure or more is arranged between the gas pressure generation unit and a detection unit that detects the secondary pressure,
When the abnormal pressure rise described above, the pressure can be released.

"Example" Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples. Not just.

FIG. 1 shows a paint container remaining amount display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a horizontal plate installed on a floor surface, and a vertical portion 2a of a flat inverted L-shaped container base plate 2 is fixedly provided at one end of the horizontal plate 1 by cantilever support. A horizontal portion 2b of the base plate 2 extends in parallel with the horizontal plate 1.

A paint container 3 is fixed on the upper surface side of the center of the horizontal portion 2b, and a gas pressure generator 4 having a pressure receiving surface on the lower surface is attached to a free end of the horizontal portion 2b. 1 It is arranged on the upper surface so that it can be grounded.

The generator 4 is configured such that a pressure receiving element 11 is fitted in a cap of a conventional diaphragm type pressure reducing valve so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the pressure of the container 3 can be received through the pressure receiving element 11. Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a main body, a primary pressure chamber 20 communicating with an inlet 14 through a passage 13, and a secondary body communicating with a discharge port 16 through a valve seat 15 below the primary pressure chamber. A secondary pressure chamber 21 is provided, and the secondary pressure chamber 21 is further provided with a diaphragm mounting space 18 therethrough through a conducting hole 17 below,
The space 18 is closed by a diaphragm 22.

The diaphragm 22 has its lower periphery supported and fixed by a cap 19, and a pressure receiving element 11 fixed to the diaphragm 22 via a plate 23 and swinging up and down together with the diaphragm 22 is attached to a lower central portion thereof.

A sheet 24 having a central through-hole 24a is mounted on the diaphragm 22 facing the inner wall cavity 11a of the pressure receiving element 11, and a primary pressure is applied to the sheet hole 24a of the sheet 24 on the diaphragm chamber 18 side. A distal end of a valve body 25 penetrating a secondary pressure chamber 21 slidably supported by the chamber 20 abuts. The valve body 25 urges the seat body 24 with an elastic force by using a valve spring 26 provided on the primary pressure chamber 20 side.

On the other hand, the pressure receiving element 11 is provided with a through hole 11b in the side surface so as to be able to communicate with the diaphragm chamber 18 through the through hole 24a of the sheet member 24, and the secondary member is operated when the sheet member 24 and the valve member 25 are separated from each other. The air in the pressure chamber 21 is introduced into the guide hole 17, the diaphragm chamber 18, the sheet body through hole 24 a, the pressure receiver 11, the through hole 11 b, and the vent hole 19 of the cap 19.
It is configured to be leakable to the outside via a.

According to such pores, the pressure receiving element 11 is integrally connected to the sheet body 24 via the diaphragm 22, and a secondary pressure is generated based on the operation principle of the diaphragm type air pressure reducing valve. In other words, the body
When 12 is lowered, the valve 25 is lifted by the pressure receiving element 11 through the diaphragm 22, the valve seat 15 is opened, the primary pressure enters the secondary pressure 21, and the secondary pressure is generated. The diaphragm 22 is pushed down by this secondary pressure, and at the same time, the valve body 25 is pushed down by the spring 26, and the valve seat 15 is closed. Conversely, when the load is reduced, the main body 12 is raised, and the diaphragm 22 is pushed down by the secondary pressure, and the portion A is gradually opened, and leaks to the outside through 11b and 19a until the secondary pressure is balanced. .

The pressure medium used for the generator 4 is preferably air, but is not limited thereto. For example, nitrogen may be used.

Returning to FIG. 1, the secondary pressure generated in the secondary pressure chamber 21 is led to the pressure gauge 6 through the discharge port 16 and the hose 5, and
Display the remaining amount in the box.

That is, E (empty) is displayed on the display plate of the pressure gauge 6 at the needle rising position corresponding to the secondary pressure corresponding to the weight of the container 3 in consideration of the own weight of the container 3 and the minimum amount of the paint, and then the maximum filling of the paint in the container 3 is performed. F (full) is displayed at the rising position of the needle 6a for the secondary pressure corresponding to the weight of the amount, and the remaining amount can be detected by moving the needle during that time.

Since the display of the pressure gauge is generally fixed,
(Of course, the display portion of the pressure gauge itself can be configured to be displaceable.) However, it is impossible to adjust the variation in the weight of the container or the lower limit level of the paint.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a compression spring 33 is placed under the adjustment screw 32 in parallel with the generator 4 through a stay 31.
Is provided.

As a result, since the load of the container 3 is received by both the generator 4 and the compression spring 33 of the urging force adjusting means 7,
By adjusting the length of the adjusting screw 32 to adjust the amount of displacement of the compression spring 33, the load of the container 3 received by the gas pressure generator 4 is adjusted, and the E (empty) display position of the pressure gauge 6 is changed. Zero point adjustment is possible so as to match the container lower limit level.

If the pressure receiving element 11 or the like is directly attached to the floor, the displacement of the pressure receiving element 11 fluctuates due to unevenness of the floor, and the E (empty) display position fluctuates. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the pressure receiving element 11 and the like can be brought into contact with the horizontal plate 1.

Further, in the configuration for receiving the container load, in the case where a paint or the like is suddenly put into the container or when an external load such as sitting on the container is urged, the needle of the pressure gauge rises to a full scale or more, The pressure gauge may be damaged.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a relief valve 8 that is opened when the secondary pressure rises to a predetermined pressure or higher is disposed in the middle of the gas pressure generating means and a detection section for detecting the secondary pressure, for example, the hose 5, When an abnormal pressure rise occurs, the pressure is released by a relief valve.

[Effect] As described above, according to the present invention, since the container load is detected by using gas, indirect measurement is performed without using an electrical detection method and without bringing the detection unit into contact with the paint. In a device that enables the above, it is possible to provide a remaining amount display device that accurately and surely does not cause deterioration in accuracy over time.

The use of air, nitrogen or the like facilitates maintenance and does not use oil or the like.

Furthermore, the use of air, nitrogen, or the like does not cause a fire hazard even in a place where an organic solvent is used, such as a painting site, and a fail-safe mechanism works even if the operation is erroneously performed, which is extremely preferable in terms of safety. .

And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the entire configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of a pressure generator, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the internal configuration of the pressure generator. 3 ... paint container (filling container), 15 ... valve seat (first valve means), 20 ... primary pressure chamber, 21 ... secondary pressure chamber, 25 ... valve body (second valve means)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A secondary pressure having a lower pressure than the primary pressure proportional to a change in load by receiving a load of a filling container which changes in proportion to an increase or decrease in paint or other filling material and converting a primary pressure of gas. A residual pressure detecting device in a filling container for detecting a change in the secondary pressure and detecting a remaining amount of the filling material in the container, comprising: a primary pressure chamber filled with the gas of the primary pressure; and a primary pressure chamber. A secondary pressure chamber filled with the gas of the secondary pressure corresponding to the load of the filling container by the gas of the primary pressure, and controlling a gas inflow amount from the primary pressure chamber to the secondary pressure chamber. 1 valve means, and 2nd valve means for controlling the amount of gas exhausted from the secondary pressure chamber in proportion to the change in load of the filling container, comprising: a gas pressure generating means for the secondary pressure chamber, A change in the secondary pressure output from the gas pressure generating means. Level detecting unit in the filling container, characterized in that for detecting the remaining amount of the filler in the container catching. 2. A gas pressure generating means is provided together with an urging force adjusting means capable of receiving the load of the container, and the urging force adjusting means is capable of adjusting the container load received by the gas pressure generating means. A device for detecting a remaining amount in a filling container according to claim 1). 3. A detecting unit for detecting a secondary pressure of the gas of the gas pressure generating means, wherein the secondary pressure rises above a predetermined pressure between the gas pressure generating means and the detecting unit. 3. A device for detecting a remaining amount in a filling container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a relief valve which is opened to said container is provided. 4. The remaining amount in the filling container according to claim 1, wherein the filling container is cantilevered and the gas pressure generating means is arranged on a free end side of the cantilever supporting portion. Detection device.