JP3537225B2 - Water flow detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitably used for devices such as water purifiers and mineral water generators, and detects the presence or absence of a water flow in a flow path, and displays and / or outputs the detection result. The present invention relates to a water flow detection device having a function and a constant flow rate function of controlling the water pressure to be equal to or lower than a set value when the water pressure in the flow path is equal to or higher than a set value.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various devices such as conventional water purifiers and mineral water generators, water is passed through the flow passages of these devices in order to know when to replace replacement parts such as filter media stored therein. There is a water flow detection device that measures the usage time, and an alarm is issued or displayed when the water usage time exceeds a set time. On the other hand, in order to ensure the quality of purified water and mineral water, a mechanical or electric constant flow valve is attached to the above flow path, and a large amount of raw water exceeding the maximum flow rate per unit Some of them are prevented from flowing into.

[0003]

By the way, when a water flow detecting device and a mechanical or electric constant flow valve are simultaneously attached to various devices such as the above-mentioned conventional water purifiers and mineral water generators, the water flow detecting device and The ratio of the volume and the price occupied in the various devices of the constant flow valve is increased, the configuration is complicated, the size is likely to be large, the price is easily increased, and there is a possibility that it may be an obstacle in reducing the size and the price.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and detects the presence or absence of a water flow in a flow path of a water purifier, a mineral water generator, or the like, and displays and / or outputs the detection result. It has a water flow detection function and a constant flow rate function that controls the water pressure below the set value when the water pressure in the flow path exceeds the set value, and it has a simple structure and is compatible with miniaturization and cost reduction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a water flow detection device capable of performing the above.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following water flow detecting device. That is, to detect the presence or absence of a water flow in the flow path, the detection result display and / or output to flow detection of water flow detection device having a constant flow function of controlling the water pressure in the flow path below the preset value A movable member provided movably in the flow path and having a through hole formed along a flow path in a central portion, and a movable member provided downstream of the movable member, the flow path being provided by movement of the movable member. A valve-shaped fixed member for changing a cross-sectional area, an elastic member interposed between the movable member and the fixed member, for urging the movable member and the fixed member in a direction of separating from each other; A detection unit that is provided outside the road and detects the position of the movable member, and determines the presence or absence of water flow in the flow path based on a signal output from the detection unit, and displays and / or outputs the determination result. And at least the set value in the flow path
The constant flow function works effectively when the water pressure of
And a signal processing unit for displaying and / or outputting that

In this water flow detecting device, when no water flows in the flow path, the movable member does not receive water pressure.
It is stationary at a position upstream of the fixed member and beyond the biasing force of the elastic member. Here, when water flows in the flow path, the movable member receives water pressure and moves downstream. On this occasion,
The fixed member serves as a throttle that changes the cross-sectional area of the flow path, and the movable member receives water pressure and moves to the fixed member side, and stops at a position where the water pressure and the urging force of the elastic member are balanced.

[0007] The cross-sectional area of the fixed member varies depending on the position of the movable member. For example, when the water pressure is large, the movable member moves closer to the fixed member,
When the cross-sectional area is small, while the water pressure is small, the movable member moves away from the fixed member, so that the cross-sectional area is large. Thereby, when the water pressure in the flow path changes, the flow path cross-sectional area changes in accordance with the change in the water pressure, and when the water pressure in the flow path becomes equal to or higher than the set value, the water pressure becomes equal to or lower than the set value. Can be controlled. Here, when the water in the flow path stops, the movable member is pushed back to the upstream side by the urging force of the elastic member as the water pressure decreases and disappears, and returns to the position before the water flows in the flow path.

On the other hand, a detecting section detects the position of the movable member, and a signal processing section determines the presence or absence of water flow in the flow path based on a signal output from the detecting section, and displays the determination result. Or output and the movable member and the
Determines whether the fixed member is under water pressure higher than the set value.
When the water pressure exceeds the set value, the constant flow rate function
Display and / or output that is working effectively.
As described above, the presence / absence of the water flow in the flow path is detected, and the detection result is displayed and / or output, and when the water pressure in the flow path becomes higher than the set value, the water pressure is controlled to be lower than the set value. Becomes possible.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a water flow detecting device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water flow detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, 2 denotes a flow path having a circular cross section formed so as to penetrate the apparatus main body 1, 3 denotes a movable member movably provided in the flow path 2, and 4 denotes a movable member 3. A fixed member 5 provided downstream of the movable member 3 and a spring (elastic member) interposed between the movable member 3 and the fixed member 4, and a detection member 6 provided outside the flow path 2, that is, inside the apparatus main body 1. Reference numeral 7 denotes a signal processing unit provided in the apparatus main body 1, and reference numeral 8 denotes a power supply for operating the detection unit 6 and the signal processing unit 7.

The movable member 3 is made of, for example, a plastic magnet which is formed by mixing and molding an acrylic resin into a ferrite magnetic material, and is magnetized. The movable member 3 has a through hole 3a formed in the center of a columnar shape. The diameter of the flow path 2 is slightly smaller than that of the flow path 2 so that the inside of the flow path 2 can be easily moved. A stopper 11 is provided upstream of the flow path 2 to prevent the movable member 3 from moving more than necessary. The fixed member 4 has a valve body shape in which the cross-sectional area of the flow path changes as the movable member 3 moves. Are formed.

The spring 5 is formed, for example, by winding a stainless steel wire, which is a non-magnetic material, in a coil shape, and is inserted between the movable member 3 and the fixed member 4 to urge them in a direction to separate them from each other. It is configured to The detection unit 6 includes, for example, a Hall IC, and detects the position of the movable member 3 in a non-contact manner. When the Hall IC is used, the relationship between the amount of magnetic flux (or magnetic flux density) generated by the movable member 3 and the amount of movement of the movable member 3 is determined in advance, and the amount of magnetic flux (or magnetic flux density) generated by the movable member 3 is detected. Thus, the position of the movable member 3 can be determined.

The signal processing section 7 determines the presence or absence of water flow in the flow path 2 based on the signal output from the detection section 6 and displays and / or outputs the determination result. When a signal is received, it is determined whether or not a water pressure higher than a set value is applied to the movable member 3 and the fixed member 4. If the water pressure is higher than the set value, it is determined that the constant flow rate function is working effectively. Display and / or output.

The power supply 8 is, for example, a switching power supply that reduces the voltage of AC 100 V and then converts the voltage to DC 12 V or DC 5 V. In addition, other power supplies having the same function,
For example, a primary battery, a secondary battery, an AC adapter, a solar battery, or the like may be used. Furthermore, when a primary battery or a secondary battery is used, a function of displaying a warning of running out of the battery may be added, or when a solar battery is used, a backup power supply may be mounted.

Next, the operation of the water flow detecting device according to this embodiment will be described. When the water flow w flows into the flow path 2 from above in FIG. 1, the movable member 3 is pushed toward the fixed member 4 by the water pressure. Since the fixed member 4 and the spring 5 are provided on the downstream side of the movable member 3, the movable member 3 receives the repulsive force from the spring 5 in the direction opposite to the water pressure and stops at the position where the water pressure and the repulsive force are balanced. Here, when a water pressure equal to or higher than the set value is applied to the movable member 3, the movable member 3
Then, the water flow passage effective cross-sectional area at the portion sandwiched by the two is moved so as to be small, and the flow rate in the flow path 2 is made constant. Therefore, the constant flow rate function works effectively, and the flow rate in the flow path 2 becomes constant regardless of the applied water pressure.

The detecting section 6 detects the amount of magnetic flux (or magnetic flux density) generated by the movable member 3 and detects the amount of magnetic flux (or magnetic flux density) generated by the movable member 3 and the amount of movement of the movable member 3. Find the position of. The signal processing unit 7 determines whether or not a water pressure equal to or higher than a set value is applied to the movable member 3, and when the water pressure equal to or higher than the set value is applied, indicates that the constant flow rate function is working effectively and / or Output.

When the water flow w stops, the movable member 3 is released from the water pressure, and receives a repulsive force from the spring 5 to move to a position before the flow of the water flow w. The detection unit 6 detects a magnetic flux amount (or a magnetic flux density) generated by the movable member 3. In this state, since the constant flow rate function of the present apparatus is invalidated, the signal processing unit 7 displays and / or outputs that the constant flow rate function is invalid.

As described above, according to the water flow detecting device of the present embodiment, the movable member 3 movably provided in the flow path 2 and the fixed member 4 provided downstream of the movable member 3 are provided.
A spring (elastic member) 5 interposed between the movable member 3 and the fixed member 4, and a detection unit 6 provided outside the flow path 2
And the signal processing unit 7, so that the presence / absence of water flow in the flow path 2 is quickly detected, the detection result is displayed and / or output, and the water pressure in the flow path 2 is set to a set value. When it becomes the above, the water pressure can be controlled to a set value or less. Further, since the configuration is extremely simple, it is possible to easily cope with miniaturization and cost reduction.

[0018]

As described above, according to the water flow detecting device of the present invention, the main body having the penetrating flow path formed therein, and the main body provided movably in the flow path and having a central portion along the flow path. A movable member having a through hole formed therein, a valve-shaped fixed member provided downstream of the movable member, and changing a flow path cross-sectional area by moving the movable member; and a movable member and the fixed member. An elastic member interposed therebetween and for urging the movable member and the fixed member in a direction to separate the movable member and the fixed member from each other; a detection unit provided outside the flow path to detect a position of the movable member; Based on the output signal, the presence or absence of a water flow in the flow path is determined, and a signal processing unit that displays and / or outputs the determination result is provided. In addition to displaying and / or outputting the detection result, the water pressure in the flow path It is possible to control the pressure below the set value when it becomes more definite. Further, since the configuration is extremely simple, it is possible to easily cope with miniaturization and cost reduction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a water flow detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Device body 2 Channel 3 movable members 3a Through hole 4 Fixing member 5 Spring (elastic member) 6 Detector 7 Signal processing unit 8 Power supply 11 Stopper 12 Through hole

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water flow detection function for detecting the presence or absence of a water flow in a flow path , and displaying and / or outputting the detection result ,
It has a constant flow rate function to control the water pressure in the
To a water flow detection device is provided to be movable in the flow path, a movable member through-holes along the flow path in the central portion is formed, provided on the downstream side of said movable member, said movable member A valve-shaped fixed member that changes a flow path cross-sectional area by movement; an elastic member inserted between the movable member and the fixed member, and biasing the movable member and the fixed member in a direction separating from each other. And a detection unit provided outside the flow path and detecting the position of the movable member. Based on a signal output from the detection unit, the presence or absence of a water flow in the flow path is determined, and the determination result is displayed. And / or output, and water pressure above the set value is applied in the flow path
Indicates that the constant flow function is working effectively and / or
Or a signal processing unit for outputting the signal.