JP4652322B2 - Underwater heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater heater used in an underwater immersion state in, for example, an aquarium fish tank.

For example, as an underwater heater used to prevent a decrease in water temperature in an aquarium fish tank, a configuration in which a coiled heating wire is arranged inside a heater tube made of a glass tube is known, and this coiled heating The wire is arranged in a substantially U shape extending from one end side of the heater tube to the other end side, folded back at the other end side, and returned to the one end side of the heater tube (see Patent Document 1). That is, in this conventional underwater heater, the coiled heating wire is folded back into a substantially U shape inside the heater tube with an insulator interposed therebetween, and is arranged in a double manner.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-89479 (paragraph 0002, FIG. 1)

  However, the conventional underwater heater has the following problems. That is, since the coiled heating wire is folded back in a substantially U shape inside the heater tube made of a glass tube and disposed in a double manner, it is inevitable that the diameter of the heater tube increases. Further, in order to prevent a short circuit due to contact between the heating wires folded in a substantially U shape, it is necessary to dispose an insulator between the double portions of the heating wires. For this reason, the diameter of the heater tube is further increased. Had to design. If the diameter of the heater tube is increased in this way, the underwater heater becomes conspicuous in the water tank, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of ornamentality, and the content of the heater tube is remarkably increased and the amount of air in the tube is increased. There arises a problem that the internal pressure load on the heater tube increases due to thermal expansion of air. Conventionally, in order to reduce the amount of air in the heater tube, sand was often filled in the heater tube, but this sand filling operation into the heater tube is very complicated. I had the problem of poor productivity.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background, and can reduce the diameter of the heater tube and make it inconspicuous. In addition, the internal pressure load on the heater tube is small, and the sand in the heater tube is small. It is an object of the present invention to provide an underwater heater that does not require filling and has good productivity.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means.

[1] A plurality of heater tubes arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other;
A heating wire extended in a coil shape from one end side to the other end side without being folded inside each heater tube,
A first connecting portion that connects one end portions of the plurality of heater tubes;
A second connecting portion that connects the other ends of the plurality of heater tubes;
An underwater heater characterized by comprising:

  [2] The submersible heater according to item 1, further comprising temperature detection means for preventing air-blowing, wherein the temperature detection means is disposed between the heater tubes arranged in parallel.

  [3] The submersible heater according to item 1 or 2, further comprising water temperature measuring means for controlling the water temperature, wherein the water temperature measuring means is provided in the first connecting part or the second connecting part.

  [4] The underwater heater according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein an outer diameter of the heater tube is 4 to 10 mm.

  In the invention of [1], the coil-shaped heating wire is not folded back in the length direction of the heater tube in each heater tube (without being folded and doubled) from one end to the other end. Since the extended configuration is adopted, the diameter of the heater pipe can be reduced, thereby making the underwater heater inconspicuous, and reducing the internal pressure load on the heater pipe, and Productivity is good because there is no need to fill the heater tube with sand. Further, since a plurality of such heater tubes are arranged, it is easy to secure desired power.

  In the invention of [2], since the temperature detecting means for preventing air blow is provided, when the heater tube goes out of the water while being energized and heated, an abnormal temperature rise is detected and the heating wire is connected. The energization can be cut off. In addition, since the temperature detection means for preventing air blown is disposed between the heater tubes arranged in parallel, the heater tube remains in a state where the heater tube is energized and heated due to, for example, a water tank leak or a water tank falling due to an earthquake. When it goes out, the temperature detection means can directly detect the abnormal temperature rise by the radiant heat from the heating wire in the heater tube, and this makes it possible to energize the heating wire after the heater tube goes out. Can be significantly shortened, and safety can be further improved. In addition, since the temperature detecting means for preventing airing is disposed outside the heater tube, the heater tube can be made smaller in diameter. In addition, in the conventional underwater heater, the temperature detection means for preventing air blown is arranged inside the heater tube, and the inside of the heater tube is filled with sand, so that an abnormal temperature rise is indirectly detected. Thus, the time from when the heater tube goes out until the power supply to the heating wire is cut off is considerably long.

  In the invention of [3], since the water temperature measuring means for controlling the water temperature is further provided, the water temperature can be controlled with high precision. The water temperature measuring means for controlling the water temperature is provided by the first connecting part or the second connecting part. Since the water temperature can be measured without being affected by the heat generated from the heater tube, the accuracy of the water temperature control can be further improved. In conventional underwater heaters, the water temperature measuring means is arranged along with the heating wire inside the heater tube, so it is not possible to adopt vertical installation that is susceptible to the heat generated from the heating wire of the heater tube. Although there was a restriction on the installation direction that it can only be used in a standing position, this configuration can measure the water temperature without being affected by the heat generated from the heating wire in the heater tube. There is an advantage that the installation direction can be set freely. For example, it can be used vertically, or it can be used horizontally (horizontal arrangement).

  In the invention of [4], the outer diameter of the heater tube is set to 4 to 10 mm, and the heater tube is made smaller in diameter, so that it can be made less noticeable, for example, an aquarium for aquarium fish etc. In addition to the improvement, the internal pressure load on the heater tube can be further reduced.

  One embodiment of an underwater heater (1) according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. In these drawings, (2) is a heater tube, (3) is a heating wire, (4) is a first connecting portion, (5) is a second connecting portion, (6) is a temperature detecting means for preventing air blowing, (7) is a water temperature measuring means for controlling the water temperature.

  The underwater heater (1) of this embodiment includes two heater tubes (2). Thus, these two heater tubes (2) are spaced apart from each other and arranged in parallel (in parallel), and one end portions of the two heater tubes (2) are connected to the first connecting portion (4). ) And the other ends of the two heater tubes (2) are connected by the second connecting portion (5) (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

  Each of the first connecting part (4) and the second connecting part (5) is formed of a synthetic resin hollow body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a pair of side walls of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped hollow body The mounting holes are spaced apart from each other. One end portion of the heater tube (2) is inserted and fitted into each of the pair of mounting holes of the first connection portion (4), and is sealed and joined in a watertight state with an adhesive or the like, and the second connection portion ( 5) The other end of the heater tube (2) is inserted and fitted into each of the pair of mounting holes, and the two heater tubes (2) and The connecting portions (4) and (5) are firmly connected and integrated.

  Inside each heater tube (2), as shown in FIG. 2, a coil-shaped heating wire (3A) extending in a substantially spiral shape from one end side to the other end side without being folded twice or more. ) (3B) are arranged. In the present embodiment, the heating wire (3A) (3B) is made of a nichrome wire.

  Further, the temperature detection means (6) for preventing air blown is inserted and disposed between the two heater tubes (2) (see FIG. 2). That is, the inward protruding portion (11) in which the temperature detecting means (6) is disposed is protruded inward from the side wall on the connection side in the first connection portion (4), As a result, the temperature detection means (6) for preventing idling is inserted and arranged between the two heater tubes (2).

  Thus, one end of the first coiled heating wire (3A) disposed inside the one heater tube (2) is connected to one end of the connecting wire (12) inside the second connecting portion (5). The other end of the first coiled heating wire (3A) is connected to one terminal (not shown) of the power cord via the connection terminal (13), while the other inside of the other heater tube (2). One end of the second coiled heating wire (3B) disposed in the second connection portion (5) is connected to the other end of the connecting wire (12) inside the second connecting portion (5), and the second coiled heating wire (3B) The other end is connected to one terminal of the temperature detecting means (6) in the inward projecting portion (11) via the inside of the first connecting portion (4), and the other end of the temperature detecting means (6). Is connected to the other terminal (not shown) of the power cord. Thus, an energization circuit that sequentially goes through the power source (not shown), the first coiled heating wire (3A), the connecting wire (12), the second coiled heating wire (3B), and the temperature detecting means (6) for preventing air blow. Is formed (see FIG. 2).

  In the present embodiment, a temperature fuse is used as the temperature detection means (6). This thermal fuse is of a known configuration that melts and blows when a predetermined temperature is reached, and the energization circuit surrounding the heating wire (3A) (3B) etc. is cut off at that portion by the melting of the thermal fuse. It is supposed to be done. The fusing temperature of the thermal fuse is higher than the temperature experienced by the thermal fuse in the normal use state of the heater (1), that is, immersed in water, and heat is generated when the heater (1) is released out of the water. It is set to a value lower than the temperature (abnormal temperature) received by the thermal fuse in the continuous state.

  Furthermore, a water temperature measuring means (7) is disposed inside the first connecting portion (4). That is, the water temperature measuring means (7) is disposed in contact with the non-connected side wall of the first connecting portion (4). In the present embodiment, a water temperature sensor is used as the water temperature measuring means (7). The water temperature sensor (7) is connected to the thermostat (20). The thermostat (20) is in an ON state when the water temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and permits energization of the coiled heating wires (3A) and (3B), while it is in an OFF state when the water temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. Thus, the energization to the coiled heating wires (3A) and (3B) is cut off, whereby the water temperature can be controlled to a constant temperature.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a suction cup (21) is attached to the back wall of the first connection part (4), and a suction cup (22) is also attached to the back wall of the second connection part (5). Yes.

  When using the underwater heater (1), for example, the underwater heater (1) is immersed in water in an aquarium fish tank. At this time, the underwater heater (1) is usually installed horizontally (horizontal arrangement) or vertically by adsorbing the suction cups (21), (22) to the inner wall surface of the water tank. It is not limited to a simple installation form. Accordingly, when the energization circuit is energized, the coiled heating wires (3A) and (3B) generate heat, and the heat is transferred to the water, thereby increasing the water temperature. At this time, since the temperature fuse (6) is at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the fuse, the temperature fuse (6) is not melted, and this leads to the coiled heating wires (3A) (3B). Is continuously maintained, and the underwater heater (1) performs a normal heat generation operation.

  On the other hand, when the underwater heater (1) is taken out of the water (ie, into the air) due to a disaster such as an earthquake, water leakage, or other causes, the temperature around the heater (1) rises abnormally To do. This temperature rise is transmitted to the temperature fuse (6) which is a temperature detecting means, and the temperature of the temperature fuse (6) rises. Since the melting temperature of the thermal fuse (6) is set to be slightly higher than the temperature experienced by the thermal fuse (6) in the normal use state of the heater (1), that is, the immersion state in water, this temperature rise During this process, the thermal fuse (6) reaches the melting temperature and blows. The fusing of the thermal fuse (6) cuts off the power to the coiled heating wires (3A) and (3B), stops the heating of the heating wires (3A) and (3B), and prevents the temperature from rising thereafter. Safety.

  Thus, in the underwater heater (1) according to the above configuration, the coiled heating wires (3A) and (3B) are folded inside the heater pipes (2) so that they are not doubled or more. Since the structure extended toward the end side is adopted, the diameter of the heater pipe (2) can be reduced, thereby making the underwater heater (1) inconspicuous, and such a small diameter. Since the amount of air inside the heater pipe (2) can be significantly reduced by the conversion, the internal pressure load on the heater pipe (2) due to the thermal expansion of the air can also be reduced. Moreover, since the internal pressure load is reduced by reducing the amount of internal air in this way, it is not necessary to fill the heater pipe (2) with sand, so sand filling work can be omitted and productivity is good. .

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the temperature detection means (6) for preventing air blowing is arranged between the heater pipes (2) arranged in parallel, for example, due to disasters such as earthquakes, water leakage, and other causes Even when the heater tube (2) goes out of the water while being energized, the temperature detection means (6) directly increases the abnormal temperature due to the radiant heat from the heating wire (3) in the heater tube (2). This has the advantage that the time from when the heater tube (2) goes out until the power supply to the heating wire (3) is cut off is very short, and the response is extremely fast. Thus, it is preferable that the temperature detection means (6) for preventing air blown is disposed between the heater tubes (2) arranged in parallel, but it is not particularly limited to such a configuration.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the water temperature measuring means (7) for controlling the water temperature is provided in the first connecting part (4), the influence of the heat generated from the heating wire (3) in the heater pipe (2). The water temperature can be measured without being subjected to water, and the accuracy of water temperature control can be further improved. Of course, a configuration in which the water temperature measuring means (7) is provided in the second connecting portion (5) may be employed, and in this case as well, the accuracy of the water temperature control can be further improved. As described above, the water temperature measuring means (7) for controlling the water temperature is preferably provided in the first connection part (4) or the second connection part (5), but is particularly limited to such a configuration. It is not something.

  In the above embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which two heater tubes (2) each having a coiled heating wire (3) are arranged in parallel. The number of heater tubes (2) is plural. If it is, it will not specifically limit. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, four heater tubes (2) having coiled heating wires (3) extending from one end to the other end without being folded back inside the tube are separated from each other. Thus, a configuration arranged in parallel can also be adopted. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in the embodiment of FIG. Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which four heater tubes (2) that are spaced apart from each other vertically and arranged in parallel are arranged in two rows in the front and rear (that is, the total number of heater tubes is eight).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, heater tubes (2A) (2B) (2C) having coiled heating wires (3) extended from one end side toward the other end side without being folded inside the tube. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which three are arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other. Of the three heater tubes, the coiled heating wires (3B) (3C) in the pair of heater tubes (2B) (2C) adjacent to each other are connected in parallel to the energizing circuit. Thus, when employ | adopting the structure which is an odd number of heater pipe | tubes (2), what is necessary is just to connect the coil-shaped heating wire in a pair of heater pipe | tubes in parallel with respect to an electricity supply circuit. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in the embodiment of FIG.

  1 to 3 (configuration with two heater tubes), the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 (configuration with four heater tubes), and the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 (configuration with three heater tubes). ), The power cord is connected to one end, that is, connected to the first connecting portion (4) and not connected to the second connecting portion (5). Therefore, the wiring structure can be further simplified, and thereby the underwater heater (1) can be made more inconspicuous. Of course, the same effect can be obtained when a configuration in which the power cord is connected to the second connecting portion (5) and not connected to the first connecting portion (4) is employed.

  In the present invention, the outer diameter of the heater tube (2) is preferably set to 4 to 10 mm. When it is 4 mm or more, the coiled heating wire (3) can be sufficiently inserted into the inner space of the heater tube (2), and when it is 10 mm or less, it can be made inconspicuous. The internal pressure load on the heater tube (2) due to the thermal expansion of the air can be improved by improving the viewability of water tanks and by reducing the air volume inside the heater tube (2) by reducing the diameter to 10mm or less. Can be further reduced.

  The underwater heater (1) according to the present invention is suitably used as a heater for aquarium fish tanks, but is not particularly limited to such applications.

It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the underwater heater concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing of the heater part of the underwater heater of FIG. It is a top view (top view) of the heater part of the underwater heater of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the underwater heater which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the underwater heater which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Submersible heater 2 ... Heater pipe 3 ... Coiled heating wire 4 ... 1st connection part 5 ... 2nd connection part 6 ... Temperature detection means for prevention of airing 7 ... Water temperature measurement means for water temperature control

Claims (3)

A plurality of heater tubes arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other;
A heating wire extended in a coil shape from one end side to the other end side without being folded inside each heater tube,
A first connecting portion that connects one end portions of the plurality of heater tubes;
A second connecting portion that connects the other ends of the plurality of heater tubes;
A temperature detecting means for preventing airing, which is arranged between the heater tubes arranged in parallel and directly senses an abnormal temperature rise;
The equipped, water heater, characterized in Rukoto be used in immersion state in water. The water heater according to claim 1, further comprising water temperature measuring means for controlling the water temperature, wherein the water temperature measuring means is provided in the first connecting part or the second connecting part. The underwater heater according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein an outer diameter of the heater tube is 4 to 10 mm.

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