JP3749642B2 - Liquid storage device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid storage device that stores liquid in a tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an example of this type of liquid storage device, a hot water storage device for supplying hot water equipped in a tea machine or the like is known. This tank is equipped with a float switch that detects the water level by raising and lowering the float and a thermistor that detects the temperature of the hot water in the tank where hot water is stored. When the lower limit position is reached, fresh water is replenished, and when it returns to the upper limit position, the replenishment is controlled, and heating means such as a heater is turned on and off based on the temperature detected by the thermistor, so that a certain amount is stored in the tank. In addition, hot water at a constant temperature is stored.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional one has a problem that the thermistor for detecting the hot water temperature is attached to the bracket separately from the float switch and arranged in the tank, and the inside of the tank is bulky. Further, since the thermistor is almost barely immersed in the hot water, there is a possibility that the hot water may enter the inside, which may cause a malfunction.
The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to neatly arrange the temperature sensor arrangement structure and to ensure accurate operation.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a float switch for detecting the liquid level and a temperature sensor for detecting the liquid temperature are provided in the tank in which the liquid is stored. By controlling the replenishment of liquid to this tank based on the signal from the switch, the storage amount is kept constant, and the liquid temperature is kept constant by controlling the heating or cooling means based on the signal from the temperature sensor. In the liquid storage apparatus, the float switch contains a reed switch inside and is vertically immersed in the tank, and a lower end-closed guide pipe, and the guide pipe is freely fitted up and down. by being composed of a float for actuating the reed switch, the said guide pipe, for the float switch, the temperature sensor is housed, the guide pipe , Attached to the hanging shape lid for covering the tank, characterized in was constructed in which the lower end is arranged at a position spaced upward with respect to the heating or cooling means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a reed switch is accommodated in the guide pipe of the float switch so as to detect a lower limit liquid level of the stored liquid. The temperature sensor is housed in a position below the switch.
[0005]
[Action and effect of the invention]
<Invention of Claim 1>
Since the temperature sensor is housed in the guide pipe that constitutes the float switch, there is no need to install a bracket or the like for mounting the temperature sensor, and the structure is simplified. Useful when you want to. In addition, since the temperature sensor is protected from flooding by being accommodated in the guide pipe, an accurate operation without failure can be expected over a long period of time.
<Invention of Claim 2>
Even when the liquid level is lowered to the lower limit position, the temperature of the remaining liquid can be detected.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In this embodiment, a hot water storage device that stores hot water for producing tea in a tea dispenser is illustrated.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a hot water storage tank, which is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a lid 11 is put on the upper surface opening. A heat insulating material 12 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 10, and a heat insulating material 13 is stretched on the surface of the lid 11 to form a heat insulating structure.
[0007]
A heater 14 for heating the stored hot water is provided on the outer bottom of the hot water storage tank 10.
A water supply port 15 is provided at a predetermined position on the upper end side of the inner peripheral surface of the hot water storage tank 10 and is connected to a water supply source to which fresh water is supplied via an on-off valve. Further, a hot water outlet 16 is provided at a predetermined position on the lower end side, and is connected to a predetermined hot water supply location via an on-off valve.
Accordingly, roughly, fresh water is supplied and stored in the hot water storage tank 10 from the water supply port 15 and is heated by the heater 14 to form hot water, which is then appropriately discharged from the hot water outlet 16. .
[0008]
Here, hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 10 at a constant amount and at a constant temperature.
Therefore, the hot water storage tank 10 is provided with a float switch 20 that detects the water level of the stored hot water. As shown in FIG. 3, the float switch 20 includes a guide pipe 21 that is a double pipe and whose lower end is closed, and a float 22 that is slidably fitted on the outer periphery of the guide pipe 21. Has been.
Reed switches 24A and 24B are accommodated in the guide pipe 21 at positions close to the upper end and at the lower end, respectively. The reed switches 24A and 24B are closed in response to a magnet embedded in the float 22 when the float 22 moves to a position around it. The lead wire 26 connected to each of the reed switches 24A and 24B is drawn from the upper end of the guide pipe 21.
[0009]
The guide pipe 21 is attached to the back surface of the lid 11 in a hanging manner. More specifically, a circular accommodating portion 30 that bulges upward and has an insertion hole 31 opened is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lid 11 on the right side in FIG. 1, and a flange 33 is formed on the upper end portion of the guide pipe 21. Is formed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the guide pipe 21 is inserted into the insertion groove 36 on the horizontal surface of the L-shaped bracket 35 from the side, and the flange 33 is locked on the same surface. As shown above, the horizontal surface of the L-shaped bracket 35 is applied to the back surface of the lid 11 and is tightened with the screw 38 from the front surface side while the upper end of the guide pipe 21 is projected upward from the insertion hole 31. The guide pipe 21 is attached in a state of hanging from the back surface of the lid 11.
[0010]
Note that the heat insulating material 13 stretched on the surface of the lid 11 is formed with a notch groove 40 that fits the above-described formation position of the accommodating portion 30 and the screwing position of the screw 38 to let it escape.
Further, stoppers 42 that abut against the float 22 are fitted to the upper position of the upper reed switch 24A and the lower position of the lower reed switch 24B on the outer periphery of the guide pipe 21, respectively.
Therefore, when the lid 11 is attached to the upper surface of the hot water storage tank 10, the guide pipe 21 of the float switch 20 is immersed vertically in the hot water storage tank 10. Here, the upper reed switch 24A functions to detect the upper limit water level Wh, and the lower reed switch 24B functions to detect the lower limit water level Wl. The upper limit water level Wh indicates the full water level, and is located slightly below the water supply port 15. On the other hand, the lower limit water level Wl is located slightly above the tap 16 and is used to indicate a water level that requires replenishment of fresh water.
[0011]
Further, a thermistor 45 that detects the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank 10 is provided. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the thermistor 45 is mounted in the guide pipe 21 constituting the float switch 20, and more specifically, is mounted at a lower position than the lower reed switch 24B.
The lead wire 46 of the thermistor 45 is pulled out from the upper end of the guide pipe 21 together with the lead wire 26 of the reed switches 24A and 24B, and is a control device for controlling the opening / closing operation of the on-off valve on the water supply port 15 side and the on / off of the heater 14. Connected to the input side.
A seal plug 48 is fitted to the upper end of the guide pipe 21 after the lead wires 26 and 46 are pulled out, and an aluminum seal tape 49 is affixed thereon as shown in FIG.
[0012]
The hot water storage apparatus of this embodiment is used as follows. Initially, fresh water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 10 from the water supply port 15, and the heater 14 is energized and heated. As shown by the chain line in FIG. 1, when the float switch 20 detects that the upper limit water level Wh has been reached, the water supply is stopped. As for the hot water temperature, the heater 14 is turned off when the temperature detected by the thermistor 45 is higher than the set temperature, and the heater 14 is turned on when the temperature is lower than the set temperature.
[0013]
When the tea or white water pouring switch is operated, the on-off valve on the side of the hot water outlet 16 is opened for a predetermined time, and a predetermined amount of hot water is discharged from the hot water outlet 16 toward the hot water supply location. Since the stored hot water is discharged by a predetermined amount every time such a pouring operation is performed, the water level of the hot water storage tank 10 gradually decreases. Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, when the float switch 20 detects that the lower limit water level Wl has been reached, the open / close valve on the water supply port 15 side is opened and fresh water is supplied. While being replenished to Wh, it is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 14.
[0014]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thermistor 45 is accommodated in the guide pipe 21 constituting the float switch 20 in order to detect the hot water temperature, and therefore the thermistor 45 is disposed in the hot water storage tank 10. Therefore, there is no need to provide a special bracket or the like, and the structure becomes simple. In addition, the number of parts protruding into the hot water storage tank 10 is reduced, and the inside is clean, which is convenient for cleaning and the like.
The thermistor 45 is accommodated in the guide pipe 21 closed at the lower end, and the open upper end of the guide pipe 21 protrudes above the lid 11 and is sealed, so that the thermistor 45 is immersed in water or exposed to moisture. Therefore, accurate operation without failure can be expected over a long period of time.
Further, the thermistor 45 is mounted at a lower position of the lower reed switch 24B, so that the hot water temperature can still be detected even if the hot water is reduced to near the lower limit water level W1, and remains through the control of the heater 14. Since the temperature of the hot water can be maintained at the set temperature, hot water at a predetermined temperature can be discharged until the end, and the hot water temperature can be recovered relatively early after fresh water is replenished.
[0015]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) The heater for heating hot water may be equipped with the inside of the hot water storage tank so-called throwing type.
(2) The present invention is not limited to a hot water storage device of a tea machine, but can be applied to all liquid storage devices that store a liquid in a tank at a constant amount and at a constant heating temperature.
(3) Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a cooling-type liquid storage device that stores a constant amount of liquid in a tank and cools the liquid to a constant temperature via a cooling unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a lower end side of a guide pipe of a float switch.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Hot water storage tank 11 ... Cover 14 ... Heater 15 ... Water supply port 16 ... Outlet 20 ... Float switch 21 ... Guide pipe 22 ... Float 24A, 24B ... Reed switch 45 ... Thermistor Wh ... Upper limit water level Wl ... Lower limit water level

Claims (2)

A float switch for detecting the liquid level and a temperature sensor for detecting the liquid temperature are provided in the tank in which the liquid is stored, and the replenishment of the liquid to the tank is controlled based on a signal from the float switch. In the liquid storage device that keeps the liquid temperature constant by controlling the heating or cooling means on the basis of the signal from the temperature sensor, the liquid temperature is kept constant.
The float switch accommodates a reed switch inside and is vertically immersed in the tank, and a lower end closed guide pipe, and a float that is freely fitted to the guide pipe and moves up and down to operate the reed switch. The temperature sensor is accommodated in the guide pipe of the float switch ,
The liquid storage device according to claim 1, wherein the guide pipe is attached in a hanging manner to a lid that covers the tank, and a lower end thereof is disposed at a position spaced upward from the heating or cooling means .   A reed switch is accommodated in the guide pipe of the float switch to detect the lower limit liquid level of the stored liquid, and the temperature sensor is accommodated at a position below the reed switch for detecting the lower limit liquid level. The liquid storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that:

Images