JP3203303U - Liquid level detector for automobile battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid level detection device for an automotive battery that can immediately and accurately detect the position of the liquid level of a battery liquid by simply inserting a part of the device from the liquid port of the battery. A detection signal is output from a liquid detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of battery liquid when an apparatus main body is inserted into the battery from a liquid port provided on the upper surface of the battery. Is received and signal-processed, and the LED of the light emission notification unit 4 is caused to emit light, thereby detecting the detection of the battery liquid level. On the outer periphery of the apparatus main body 2, a ring body 6 for adjusting the insertion depth of the apparatus main body 2 from the liquid port into the battery and identifying the detection position inside the battery of the liquid detection sensor 7 is attached. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery liquid level detection device for measuring whether or not the amount of battery liquid charged in a battery mounted in an automobile is appropriate.

  As a liquid level detector for a conventional automobile battery, for example, a tube body with a scale for checking the liquid level on the outer peripheral surface is inserted into the battery from the liquid top of the battery, and the lower portion of the tube body is immersed in the battery liquid. In this state, the upper end of the tube body is closed with a finger or the like, so that the battery liquid stays in the tube body, and the battery liquid is pulled up from the battery liquid port as it is. The thing of the structure which identifies and detects the height of a liquid level is known (for example, refer patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-280921

  Although the conventional battery level detector has the advantage of being simple and easy to use, the battery level can be detected by inserting the tube into the battery and then closing the top of the tube. In this case, the battery liquid must be retained in the process, and the tube body is pulled up from the battery as it is, and then the liquid level of the battery liquid staying in the tubular body is visually checked. There was a problem that it took time to detect the surface.

  In addition, the tube itself inserted into the battery fluid port is thin, and the scale on the outer surface of the tube is small, making it difficult to visually check the battery fluid that has accumulated in the tube. When the illumination of the battery is dark, it is easy to mistake the position of the battery liquid level, and there is a problem that it takes a long time for visual confirmation.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention allows the liquid level detection device for an automobile battery to be positioned by simply inserting a part of the device from the liquid port of the battery. It is an object of the present invention to configure so that it can be detected immediately and accurately.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a battery level detection device for detecting a liquid level of a battery liquid by inserting it into a battery from a liquid port provided on an upper surface of an automobile battery.
A liquid detection sensor provided at the front end of the apparatus main body formed in a thickness that can be inserted into the liquid port, a signal processing unit housed in the apparatus main body, and a light emission notification provided in the trunk of the apparatus main body With
A detection signal is output from the liquid detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the battery liquid when the tip of the apparatus body is inserted into the battery through the liquid port, and the signal processing unit receives this detection signal for signal processing. It is configured so as to notify the detection of the battery liquid level by emitting an LED drive signal from the processing unit and causing the LED of the light emission notification unit to emit light,
A positioning mechanism is provided on the outer periphery of the apparatus main body to adjust the depth of insertion of the apparatus main body from the liquid port into the battery to identify the detection position inside the battery of the liquid detection sensor provided at the tip of the apparatus main body. It has the structure comprised.

  According to the liquid level detection device of the present invention, after operating the positioning mechanism to set the depth of insertion of the device main body into the battery, if the side where the liquid detection sensor is provided is inserted from the liquid port, the light emission notification unit When the LED emits light, it can be determined that the liquid level of the battery liquid is in a predetermined position, and the amount of battery liquid charged into the battery is appropriate, and when the LED of the light emitting notification unit does not emit light It is possible to immediately determine that the amount of battery liquid filling is insufficient. Since it is possible to detect whether or not the liquid level of the battery liquid is at an appropriate height based on whether or not the LED of the light emission notification unit emits light, it is not necessary to perform a visual check of the scale as in the conventional case, and the battery is quickly and accurately detected. It is possible to determine whether or not the liquid filling amount is appropriate.

In the liquid level detection apparatus having the above-described configuration, the positioning mechanism is slidably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body, and is large enough to engage with the upper peripheral part of the liquid opening when the front end of the apparatus main body is inserted into the liquid opening. The ring body can be configured.
In this case, the ring body is formed of an elastic material made of rubber or a synthetic resin material, and is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body so that the mounting position can be slid along the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body. It is preferable to do.
Further, it is preferable that the ring body setting position when detecting the lower liquid level of the battery liquid and the ring body setting position when detecting the upper level liquid level are displayed on the outer periphery of the apparatus main body. .

Further, in the liquid level detection device having the above-described configuration, the light emission notification unit includes a translucent part having a peripheral side surface surrounded by a translucent material on a body part opposite to the side where the liquid detection sensor of the apparatus body is provided, The LED and hemispherical reflective material are arranged vertically inside this translucent part so that the illumination light of the LED is reflected by the reflective material and transmitted and emitted from the translucent part to the outside of the device main body. Can do.
Furthermore, the liquid detection sensor can be configured such that its electrical resistance becomes 0Ω by contacting the liquid.

According to the liquid level detection device for an automotive battery of the present invention, after the positioning mechanism is operated to set the depth of insertion of the device main body into the battery, the liquid detection sensor is provided on the side where the liquid detection sensor is provided from the liquid top of the battery. It is possible to detect the position of the liquid level of the battery liquid and to determine whether or not the filling amount of the battery liquid is appropriate just by performing the operation of inserting.
Since it is possible to detect whether or not the liquid level of the battery liquid is at an appropriate height based on whether or not the LED of the light emission notification unit emits light, there is no need to visually check the scale as in the conventional case, and the lighting on the work site is not necessary. Even in the dark, it is possible to accurately and efficiently check the liquid level of the battery liquid.

It is an external view of the liquid level detection apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is the front view which permeate | transmitted and showed only the upper part of the apparatus main body in the liquid level detection apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which showed the circuit structure of the liquid level detection apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which showed each setting position of the ring body when detecting the lower liquid level and upper liquid level of a battery liquid using the liquid level detection apparatus of FIG. It is a use condition figure when the liquid level detection apparatus of FIG. 1 is inserted in the liquid port of the battery.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a liquid level detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The liquid level detection device 1 according to the present embodiment has an upper end of a thin rod body 3 that can be inserted into the battery from a liquid port of the battery. The light emitting notification unit 4 is integrally provided, and the signal processing unit 5 including a signal processing circuit is accommodated therein to form the apparatus main body 2, and the rod 3 from the liquid port to the inside of the battery is formed on the outer periphery of the rod 3. The ring body 6 which is a positioning mechanism for adjusting the insertion depth is attached.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the rod body 3 of the apparatus main body 2 has a bottomed circular tube having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the liquid port, and the liquid detection sensor 7 is integrated with a bottom portion 31 which is a lower end of the tubular body. It is attached and formed. When the sensor terminals 71 and 71 come into contact with the liquid, the liquid detection sensor 7 has an electric resistance of 0Ω, and this is detected as a liquid detection signal by the signal processing unit 5 described later, and signal processing for liquid detection is performed. It is like that.

The light emission notification unit 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter larger than that of the rod 3, and a translucent part 41 a surrounded by a translucent material is provided on the peripheral side surface of the body part 41, and the inside of the translucent part 41 a The LED 8 and the hemispherical reflecting material 9 are arranged on the inside, and the battery 10 is installed inside the trunk portion 41 above the translucent portion 41a. The LED 8 and the reflecting material 9 are arranged to oppose each other, and the illumination light of the LED 8 is reflected by the reflecting material 9 so as to transmit and emit light from the translucent portion 41a to the outside of the apparatus main body.
Moreover, the upper end of the light emission notification unit 4 is closed by a lid 42, and the battery 42 can be replaced or the internal mechanism can be maintained by removing the lid 42.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of the liquid level detection apparatus 1.
That is, the liquid detection sensor 7 detects the battery liquid, and when the electric resistance becomes 0Ω, a detection signal is output, and this detection signal is input to the sensor signal processing circuit 51 of the signal processing unit 5. In the sensor signal processing circuit 51, when the electric resistance of the liquid detection sensor 7 becomes 0Ω, a drive command signal is output so that the LED drive circuit 52 of the signal processing unit 5 causes the LED 8 to emit light. Then, a drive signal is output from the LED drive circuit 52 to the LED 8, and when the LED 8 emits light, the fact that the battery level has been detected is emitted to the surroundings of the apparatus. The LED 8 is driven to emit light when the liquid detection sensor 7 is turned on, but a power-on switch may be provided to form a drive circuit.

Also, the ring body 6 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or synthetic resin material, and has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the liquid port and an inner diameter that is tightly fitted to the outer periphery of the rod body 3. It is formed in the shape of a perforated disk, and is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the rod 3 so that the mounting position can be displaced by sliding along the longitudinal direction of the peripheral surface.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when checking whether or not the battery liquid filled in the battery is at the lower level, the ring body 6 is placed at the lower measurement position slightly above the rod body 3, and the upper When checking whether or not the level is satisfied, the ring body 6 is positioned at the Upper measurement position slightly below the rod body 3, and the rod body 3 is inserted into the liquid inlet of the battery in each state. The appropriate liquid level of the battery liquid at the lower level and the upper level can be detected. At this time, since the lower surface of the ring body 6 is engaged with the upper peripheral portion of the liquid port, even if the operator removes his / her hand from the liquid level detecting device 1, the device can stand on the liquid port.
As shown in FIG. 4, the setting position of the ring body 6 when detecting the lower level liquid level of the battery liquid and the setting position of the ring body when detecting the upper level liquid level on the outer periphery of the rod body 3 The display 11 may be displayed.

According to the liquid level detection device 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, after the ring body 6 is operated in advance and the insertion depth of the rod body 3 into the battery 12 is set as shown in FIG. If the rod 3 is inserted from the liquid port 12a, the lower surface of the ring body 6 engages with the upper peripheral portion of the liquid port 12a, and the apparatus main body 2 is self-supporting on the liquid port 12a. When the LED 8 emits light, the liquid level of the battery liquid is in a predetermined position, so that it can be determined that the amount of battery liquid charged into the battery is appropriate, and the LED 8 of the light emission notification unit 4 did not emit light. When it is, it can be immediately determined that the amount of battery liquid filling is insufficient.
Since it is possible to detect whether or not the liquid level of the battery liquid is at an appropriate height depending on whether or not the LED 8 emits light, it is not necessary to perform a visual check of the scale as in the prior art, and the amount of the battery liquid filled quickly and accurately. It is possible to determine whether or not is appropriate.

  In addition, the form of the liquid level detection apparatus 1 shown in figure is an example, and this invention is not limited to this, It can comprise with another appropriate form. For example, in this embodiment, the LED 8 is installed inside the apparatus and is internally lit, but the LED 8 may be installed on the surface of the apparatus body 2. Further, although the ring body 6 is employed as a positioning mechanism for adjusting the insertion depth of the rod body 3 from the liquid port into the battery inside the outer periphery of the rod body 3, other positioning mechanisms may be provided. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid level detection apparatus, 2 Apparatus main body, 3 Rod body, 4 Light emission alert | reporting part, 5 Signal processing part, 6 Ring body, 7 Liquid detection sensor, 8 LED, 9 Reflective material, 10 Battery, 11 Display, 12 Battery, 12a Liquid mouth

Claims (6)

In the battery level detecting device for detecting the liquid level of the battery liquid inserted into the battery from the liquid port provided on the upper surface of the automobile battery,
A liquid detection sensor provided at the front end of the apparatus main body formed in a thickness that can be inserted into the liquid port, a signal processing unit housed in the apparatus main body, and a light emission notification provided in the trunk of the apparatus main body With
A detection signal is output from the liquid detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the battery liquid when the tip of the apparatus body is inserted into the battery through the liquid port, and the signal processing unit receives this detection signal for signal processing. It is configured so as to notify the detection of the battery liquid level by emitting an LED drive signal from the processing unit and causing the LED of the light emission notification unit to emit light,
A positioning mechanism is provided on the outer periphery of the apparatus main body to adjust the depth of insertion of the apparatus main body from the liquid port into the battery to identify the detection position inside the battery of the liquid detection sensor provided at the tip of the apparatus main body. A liquid level detection device for an automobile battery, characterized by having the above-described configuration.   The positioning mechanism is a ring body that is slidably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body and engages with the upper peripheral part of the liquid port when the tip of the apparatus main body is inserted into the liquid port. The liquid level detection device for an automobile battery according to claim 1.   The liquid level detection device for an automobile battery according to claim 2, wherein the ring body constituting the positioning mechanism is formed of an elastic material.   The ring body setting position when detecting the lower level liquid level of the battery liquid and the ring body setting position when detecting the upper level liquid level are displayed on the outer periphery of the apparatus main body. The liquid level detection apparatus of the battery for motor vehicles in any one of Claims 1-3.   The light emission notification unit is provided with a translucent part with a translucent material surrounded by a translucent material on the body part opposite to the side on which the liquid detection sensor of the apparatus main body is provided, and the LED and hemisphere inside the translucent part The reflecting material is arranged so as to be opposed to each other, the illumination light of the LED is reflected by the reflecting material, and transmitted and emitted from the light transmitting part to the outside of the apparatus main body. A liquid level device for an automotive battery according to any one of the above.   The liquid level detection device for an automobile battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid detection sensor is configured to have an electric resistance of 0Ω when it comes into contact with the liquid.

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