JP4002201B2 - Heater cover - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heater cover that is suitably used for a heater that is used by being put into water in an aquarium to raise aquatic animals such as ornamental fish and amphibians in an aquarium, and is particularly applicable to a rod-shaped heater. Relates to the heater cover.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When breeding ornamental fish such as tropical fish, it is necessary to maintain the water temperature in the aquarium at a predetermined temperature or higher throughout the year.
[0003]
As such an underwater heater, a rod-shaped heater is widely used, and as a use mode thereof, the heater is directly put into water, or a suction cup is directly attached to the heater and adsorbed on the inner peripheral wall of the water tank There is also. However, if the heater is installed underwater in this way, the ornamental fish may directly touch the heat generation part of the heater and damage it, or the heat generation part of the heater directly contacts the glass constituting the water tank. As a result, the glass in the aquarium was locally heated, which could cause cracking or breakage. For this reason, it has been conventionally performed to cover a rod-shaped heater to be put into the aquarium with a cover to cut off contact between the heater and the tropical fish or the aquarium itself.
[0004]
For example, the following publications disclose a cover for a rod heater.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-9821
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-97671
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, existing rod heater covers and covers such as those described in the above documents are produced in a one-to-one correspondence with the length of the rod heater. The versatility that can be handled with a single heater cover was not considered.
[0008]
As described above, in a heater cover that is suitable only for a specific non-universal bar heater, the same number of covers as the type of heater must be displayed, sold, stored, etc. in the store. It was necessary to secure space at all times. Further, since the consumer needs to replace the cover at the same time when replacing the failed heater, a versatile heater cover has been desired.
[0009]
Furthermore, for the manufacturer, the heater cover corresponding to the heater length on a one-to-one basis has to be produced in small quantities of other varieties, which makes it difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost.
[0010]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heater cover that can be applied to heaters of various lengths and has improved versatility.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, a heater cover according to the present invention includes a plurality of through holes in a peripheral wall, and an inner and outer cylinders for accommodating a heater that are fitted inside and outside so as to be relatively slidable in an axial direction. A guide groove in the axial direction is provided on one of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, and a guide protrusion that fits into the guide groove is provided on the other, and the guide protrusion guides the guide groove. The inner and outer cylinders slide in the axial direction in a state where the rotation is restricted , and the inner and outer cylinders include at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. It is characterized in that the at least part of the inner peripheral surface is held in a coupled state at the slide position by being pressed.
[0012]
By adopting this configuration, the inner and outer cylinders that accommodate the heater are fitted inside and outside, and sliding in the axial direction expands and contracts the entire length of the inner and outer cylinders, and consequently the total length of the heater cover, and the inner cylinder. At least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the body and at least a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical body are brought into pressure contact with each other, so that they are held in a coupled state at the slide position. That is, it can be adjusted to an optimum length for various lengths of the rod-shaped heater, and versatility as a heater cover is improved.
[0014]
Also, an axial guide groove is provided on one of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, and a guide protrusion that fits into the guide groove is provided on the other, and the guide protrusion guides the guide groove. Since the inner and outer cylinders are configured to slide in the axial direction in a state in which the rotation is restricted, the inner and outer cylinders can be connected to the guide protrusions while preventing mutual unintentional rotation. It can be smoothly slid by the guide action with the guide groove to have a predetermined length.
[0015]
In addition, at a plurality of slide positions with different sliding amounts of the inner and outer cylinders, the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess that removably engage with each other to increase the coupling force of the inner and outer cylinders are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder or It is good also as a structure provided in one side and the other of the internal peripheral surface of an outer side cylinder.
[0016]
According to this configuration, the inner and outer cylinders are slid to the optimum position where the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess engage with the heater length, so that the coupling force between the inner and outer cylinders increases, Prevent unintentional separation of the body.
[0017]
In this case, in a state where the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess are engaged, the positions of the through holes of the respective cylinders in the overlapping portion of the inner and outer cylinders may be substantially matched. By substantially matching the positions of the through holes of the respective cylinders in the overlapping portion, it is possible to prevent the positions of the through holes from shifting and obstruct the area of the through holes communicating with the inside and outside of the heater cover, thereby preventing the flow of water. Heat transfer by good convection can be promoted.
[0018]
Further, at least one of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder may be configured by a plurality of connectable divided bodies divided in the circumferential direction. By making it a divided body, the manufacture of the cylindrical body becomes simple and the attachment to the heater becomes easy.
[0019]
Further, when the divided bodies are moved in the axial direction opposite to each other, they are connected or disconnected, and in the connected state of the divided bodies, the base of the soft sucker for attaching the heater cover is It is good also as a structure by which separation | separation of a division body is prevented by attaching a division body to a butt | matching part through the thickness direction.
[0020]
In this case, unintentional separation of the cylinder after the suction cup is attached can be prevented.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0022]
1 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a submersible heater cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. is there.
[0023]
In these figures, A is a submersible heater cover, which is composed of an inner cylinder 1 located on the upper side and an outer cylinder 2 located on the lower side. These cylinders 1 and 2 are made of resin, the inner cylinder 1 has a bottomed circular shape with the lower end opened, and the outer cylinder 2 has an opened upper end, and the outer cylinder is more outer than the inner cylinder. Is slightly larger in diameter. An insertion hole 11 for inserting the proximal end reduced diameter portion H1 of the heater H is provided at the center of the upper end bottom portion of the inner cylinder 1.
[0024]
Further, two guide protrusions 12 extending in the axial direction (length direction) and projecting in the radial direction are provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the cylindrical body 1 on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical body 1 at the radially opposed positions. It is provided from the position to the lower end.
[0025]
Further, on the peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 1, through holes extending in the circumferential direction are arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction on the left and right sides of each guide protrusion 12. These through-holes 13 are for promoting the convection of water due to the heat of the heater H accommodated inside the cylinder by allowing the water to flow through the inside and outside of the inner cylinder 1.
[0026]
On the other hand, a guide groove 21 extending in the axial direction (length direction) and recessed in the radial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical body 2 over the entire length in the axial direction at a radially opposed position. . The guide groove 21 guides the guide protrusion 12 of the inner cylindrical body 1, and the groove width is set to a size that allows the guide protrusion 12 to be fitted.
[0027]
Furthermore, circumferential holes 22 extending in the circumferential direction are arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction on the left and right sides of each guide groove 21 on the peripheral wall of the outer cylindrical body 2. The sizes and intervals of these through holes 22 are set to be substantially the same as the sizes and intervals of the through holes 13 of the inner cylinder 1.
[0028]
Further, in the vicinity of the opening end (lower end) of the inner cylinder 1, the two guide protrusions 12 are provided with small engaging protrusions 14 that protrude in the radial direction from the surface of the guide protrusion 12. . On the other hand, the guide groove 21 of the outer cylinder 2 is formed with an engagement recess 23 (shown in FIG. 6) that is further recessed from the groove surface and engageable with the engagement protrusion 14.
[0029]
The inner cylindrical body 1 and the outer cylindrical body 2 as described above are configured such that the lower ends of the two guide protrusions 12 and 12 of the inner cylindrical body 1 are connected to the two guide grooves 21 and 21 of the outer cylindrical body 2. With the inner cylinder 1 fitted into the outer cylinder 2 with the upper end fitted, the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 are relatively squeezed or pulled in the axial direction to slide. Then, the entire length of the cover A constituted by the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2 expands and contracts.
[0030]
Here, the guide protrusions 12 and the engaging protrusions 14 of the inner cylinder 1 and the guide grooves 21 of the outer cylinder 2 are the guide protrusions 12 in a state in which the guide protrusions 12 are fitted into the guide grooves 21. The height of the engagement protrusion 14 and the depth of the guide groove 21 are set such that the engagement protrusion 14 provided on the inner surface of the guide groove 21 is pressed against the groove surface of the guide groove 21 and the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 are coupled. ing. When the engagement protrusion 14 reaches the position of the engagement recess 23 of the guide groove 21, the engagement protrusion 14 fits into the engagement recess 23 and is prevented from coming off, and the coupling force between the inner and outer cylinders 1, 2. Is expected to increase further.
[0031]
Since the engagement recess 23 of the guide groove 21 is intermittently formed in the length direction of the guide groove 21, when the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 are slid in the length shortening direction or the extension direction, The engagement protrusion 14 engages with the engagement recess 23 at a plurality of positions, and the coupling force between the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 increases at that position. Therefore, when the cover is used, the engagement protrusion 14 and the engagement recess 23 may be engaged at a position slightly longer than the length of the heater H.
[0032]
In addition, although illustration was abbreviate | omitted in order to perform engagement / disengagement of the engagement protrusion 14 and the engagement recessed part 23 smoothly, while the both ends of the engagement protrusion 14 in an axial direction are formed in an inclined surface or a circular arc surface, Both end portions of the engaging recess 23 have shapes corresponding to both end portions of the engaging protrusion 14.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the inner cylindrical body 1 includes a first inner divided body 15 and a first inner circumferential body 15 in a circumferential direction on a plane including an axis line so that the pair of guide protrusions 12 and 12 are in symmetrical positions. It is divided into two inner divided bodies 16. Cutouts 151 and 161 for forming the heater insertion holes 11 are formed on the upper surfaces of the divided bodies 15 and 16.
[0034]
In addition, at the lower ends of the first inner divided body 15 and the second inner divided body 16, engagement pieces that protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the divided body toward the mating member and have outward claws 152 a and 162 a at the tips, respectively. 152, 162 and engagement holes 153, 163 provided through the wall portions of the divided bodies 15, 16 and engaged with the claw portions 152a, 162a of the mating engagement pieces 152, 162 are formed. Yes.
[0035]
In addition, engagement pieces that protrude toward the mating member from the inner peripheral surface of the divided body at the upper ends of the first inner divided body 15 and the second inner divided body 16 and have outward claw portions 152a and 162a at the tips, respectively. 152 and 162, and engaging holes 153 and 163 provided through the wall of the divided body and engaged with the claws 152a and 162a of the mating pieces 152 and 162 of the mating member are the lower engaging pieces. And it is formed in the position opposite to the position of the engagement hole.
[0036]
The first inner divided body 15 and the second inner divided body 16 are divided by engaging the claw portions 152a, 162a of the engagement pieces 152, 162 with the edges of the engagement holes 153, 163 of the mating member. The inner cylindrical body 1 is formed so as to be integrally connected in a contact state on the surface.
[0037]
In addition, a suction cup mounting portion 164 for mounting a soft suction cup made of rubber, resin or the like is erected on an edge portion near the upper end of the second inner divided body 16. And the suction cup 3 is attached to the mounting hole 164a of the suction cup mounting portion 164 by deforming and inserting the small diameter base portion 31 of the suction cup 3 from the outside.
[0038]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the outer cylinder 2 is divided into a first outer division in a circumferential direction on a plane including an axis so that the pair of guide grooves 21 and 21 are in a symmetrical position. The body 24 and the second outer divided body 25 are divided into two.
[0039]
One of the lower ends of the first outer divided body 24 is provided with an upward L-shaped engagement piece 241 that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the divided body toward the mating member and has an inward claw 241a at the tip. In this case, an engagement protrusion 242 that engages with the claw portion 251a of the upward L-shaped engagement piece 251 of the counterpart material is formed so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the divided body toward the counterpart material. In addition, the upper L-shaped engaging pieces 241 and the engaging protrusions 242 are also provided at both upper ends of the first outer divided body 24, and the positions of the lower L-shaped engaging pieces 241 and the engaging protrusions 242 are the same as described above. Are provided in a reverse positional relationship.
[0040]
In addition, at one of the lower ends of the second outer divided body 25, it protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the divided body toward the mating member at a position corresponding to the engagement protrusion 242 of the first outer divided body 24, and has an inward nail at the tip. A downward L-shaped engagement piece 251 having a portion 251a is provided, and on the other side, an engagement protrusion 252 that engages the claw portion 241a of the upward L-shaped engagement piece 241 of the mating member is formed from the outer peripheral surface of the divided body. It is formed to project toward the mating material. In addition, the same downward L-shaped engagement piece 251 and engagement projection 252 as those described above are also opposite to the positions of the lower L-type engagement piece and the engagement projection at both upper ends of the second outer divided body 25. It is provided in the positional relationship.
[0041]
In addition, semicircular cutouts 243 and 253 are formed at the edges near the lower ends of both divided bodies 24 and 25, and suction cup insertion is provided at the edge of the cutout 253 of the second outer divided body 25. A suction cup mounting portion 254 having a mounting hole 254a is provided upright.
[0042]
The first and second outer divided bodies 24 and 25 are connected as follows. That is, in a state where the second outer divided body 25 is shifted to the upper position and the first divided body 24 is shifted to the lower position, the divided surfaces of both the divided bodies 24, 25 are brought into contact, and both the divided bodies 24, 25 are slid up and down, The claws 241a and 251a of the engaging pieces 241 and 251 of the divided members 24 and 25 are engaged with the engaging protrusions 252 and 242 of the mating member, and the divided members 24 and 25 are connected. In this state, the notches 243 and 253 of the two divided bodies 24 and 25 are matched to form a circular suction cup mounting hole 26.
[0043]
In this state, the small diameter base portion 31 of the suction cup 3 is deformed and inserted through the attachment hole 254a of the suction cup attachment portion 254 of the second outer divided body 25 from the outside, and further the suction cup attachment hole 26 of the outer cylindrical body 2 is inserted. 3 is to be attached. In a state where the suction cup 3 is attached, the base 31 of the suction cup 3 is fitted and attached to the attachment hole 26 provided in the abutting portion of the two divided bodies 24 and 25, so that the suction cup base 31 is attached to the divided body 24. , 25 are prevented from sliding in the separating direction, thereby preventing separation of the divided bodies.
[0044]
Next, a method of using the submersible heater cover A according to the illustrated embodiment will be described.
[0045]
First, the suction cup 3 is attached by connecting the first and second outer divided bodies 24 and 25 of the outer cylindrical body 2 by the method described above.
[0046]
Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the first and second divided bodies 15 and 16 of the inner cylinder 1 are separated, and the proximal end reduced diameter portion H1 of the heater H is fitted into the notches 151 and 161 on the upper surface. In this state, the two divided bodies are pushed in the direction in which the divided surfaces of the first and second divided bodies 15 and 16 are brought into contact with each other, and the claw portions 152a and 162a of the engagement pieces 152 and 162 and the engagement holes 163 and 153 To engage the first and second divided bodies 15 and 16. Further, the suction cup 3 is attached to the suction cup attachment portion 164.
[0047]
In FIG. 1, H <b> 2 is a power cord extended from the proximal end reduced diameter portion H <b> 1 of the heater H.
[0048]
Next, when the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 are relatively pushed and slid in a state in which the guide protrusions 12 and 12 of the inner cylinder 1 are fitted in the guide grooves 21 and 21 of the outer cylinder 2, the inner cylinder 1 While the engagement protrusion 14 of the first guide protrusion 12 is pressed against the groove surface of the guide groove 21 of the outer cylinder 2 to join the cylinders 1 and 2, the overall length of the heater cover A is continuously reduced. To go.
[0049]
In this embodiment, since the engaging recess 23 is intermittently formed in the guide groove 21 of the outer cylinder 2 in the length direction of the guide groove 21, the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 are continuously slid. The engagement protrusion 14 of the inner cylinder 1 is intermittently engaged with the engagement recess 23 of the outer cylinder 2, and the coupling force between the cylinders 1 and 2 increases at that position. Then, at a suitable position corresponding to the heater length, the sliding of both cylinders 1 and 2 is stopped in a state where the engagement protrusion 14 of the inner cylinder 1 is engaged with the engagement recess 23, and FIG. As shown, a heater with a cover is used.
[0050]
In this way, the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 may be slid according to various heater lengths.
[0051]
Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the cover-equipped heater H is adsorbed on the inner surface of the water tank 4 through the suction cup 3. In a state where the engagement protrusion 14 of the inner cylinder 1 is engaged with the engagement recess 23 of the outer cylinder 2, the upper and lower positions of the inner and outer through holes 13 and 22 are almost the same in the overlapping portion of the inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2. Since they are matched, the water heated by the heater H flows smoothly through the through holes 13 and 22 of the both cylinders 1 and 2, and exhibits an excellent convection effect.
[0052]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the guide protrusion 12 and the engagement protrusion 14 are provided on the inner cylinder 1, and the guide groove 11 and the engagement recess 13 are provided on the outer cylinder 2.
[0053]
The inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2 are divided into two parts in the circumferential direction, but they may be manufactured as an integrally molded product without being divided, or may be divided into three or more parts in the circumferential direction. .
[0054]
In addition, the heater cover is constituted by the two inner and outer cylinders 1 and 2, but the three or more cylinders are fitted to each other inside and outside to be slidable in the axial direction, and the cover length is adjusted to extend and contract. There may be.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the inner and outer cylinders that accommodate the heater are fitted inside and outside and are slid in the axial direction, whereby the overall length of the heater cover is expanded and contracted, and at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. Since at least a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical body is in pressure contact with each other and is held in a coupled state at the slide position, it is adjusted to an optimum length for various lengths of rod heaters. And versatility as a heater cover can be improved.
[0056]
In addition, the inner and outer cylinders can be smoothly slid by the guide action of the guide protrusions and the guide grooves to have a predetermined length while preventing mutual unintentional rotation.
[0057]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the coupling force between the inner and outer cylinders is increased by sliding both the inner and outer cylinders to the optimal position where the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess engage with the heater length. In addition, unintentional separation of both cylinders can be prevented.
[0058]
According to the invention of claim 3 , the area of the through hole communicating with the inside and outside of the heater cover by shifting the position of the through hole when the positions of the through holes of the respective cylinders substantially coincide with each other in the overlapping portion of the inner and outer cylinders. Can be prevented, and heat transfer by good convection can be promoted without interfering with the flow of water.
[0059]
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4 , since at least one of an inner side cylinder and an outer side cylinder is comprised by the several division body which can be divided | segmented in the circumferential direction, manufacture of a cylinder becomes easy. At the same time, attachment to the heater becomes easy.
[0060]
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5 , the unintentional isolation | separation of the cylinder after a suction cup attachment can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a submersible heater cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inner and outer cylinders in a divided manner.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the opening of each of the divided bodies constituting the inner and outer cylinders.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an upper bottom portion of a divided body constituting the inner cylinder.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a lower bottom portion of a divided body constituting the outer cylinder.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a state where a cover is attached to the heater.
8 is a perspective view of a state in which the cover-equipped heater of FIG. 7 is attached to the inner surface of the water tank.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Heater cover 1 Inner cylinder 2 Outer cylinder 12 Guide protrusion 13 Through hole 14 Engaging protrusion 15 First inner divided body 16 Second inner divided body 21 Guide groove 22 Through hole 23 Engaging recess 24 First outer divided body 25 Second outer divided body 3 Suction cup H Heater

Claims (5)

Each of the peripheral walls has a plurality of through holes, and includes an inner and outer cylindrical body that is fitted inside and outside so as to be slidable in the axial direction.
An axial guide groove is provided on one of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, and a guide protrusion that fits in the guide groove is provided on the other.
When the guide protrusion is guided by the guide groove and moves, the inner and outer cylinders slide in the axial direction in a state in which the rotation is restricted,
The inner and outer cylinders are held in a combined state at a slide position by press-contacting at least part of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and at least part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. . At a plurality of slide positions where the sliding amounts of the inner and outer cylinders are different, the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess that removably engage with each other to increase the coupling force of the inner and outer cylinders are the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder. The heater cover according to claim 1, which is provided on one and the other of the inner peripheral surface of the body. 3. The heater cover according to claim 2, wherein the positions of the through holes of the respective cylinders in the overlapping portion of the inner and outer cylinders substantially coincide with each other in a state where the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess are engaged. The heater cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the inner cylinder body and the outer cylinder body is configured by a plurality of divided bodies divided in the circumferential direction. The divided bodies are connected or disconnected by being moved in the opposite directions in the axial direction,
In the connected state of the divided bodies, the base of the soft sucker for attaching the heater cover is attached to the butted portion of the divided body through the divided body in the thickness direction, thereby preventing separation of the divided bodies from each other The heater cover according to claim 4, wherein

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