JP6198364B1 - Flow meter with power supply and flow rate notification system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve this inconvenience even when it is located in a place where it is difficult to replace batteries, and to report information such as flow rate and other information to an information terminal. SOLUTION: A main body 2 having a fluid passage 3 formed therein, an upstream joint 5 provided on one end side of the main body 2 and communicating with an inlet 4 of the fluid passage 3, and the other end of the main body 2 A downstream joint 7 that communicates with the outlet 6 of the fluid passage 3, a power supply unit 8 that supplies electric power, and a flow rate measurement unit 9 that is provided from the power supply unit 8 to the main body 2. The power supply unit 8 is configured separately from the main body 2, and a pair of engagement claws 11 is provided on either the power supply unit 8 or the main body 2, and the engagement claw 11 is locked on the other side. The power supply unit 8 is detachably attached to the main body 2. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow meter having a power source such as a battery, and a flow rate reporting system for reporting various information such as a flow rate in a water purifier or the like and a replacement timing of a water purification cartridge.

  As a water purifier, a faucet built-in type water purifier that is directly attached to a faucet, a water purifier with a built-in water pipe that incorporates a cylindrical water purifying cartridge inside a hand shower faucet adjacent to the sink, and a system There is an under-sink type water purifier installed in the storage cabinet under the sink of the kitchen.

  Of the water purifiers described above, the faucet-directly connected water purifier is relatively inexpensive and can be easily attached to an existing water faucet. In some cases, there is a function to measure and display the flow rate, or to display the replacement timing of the water purification cartridge. What to do is known.

  Specifically, for example, a battery mounting unit for setting a battery, a flow rate detection unit that transmits a signal when water flows, and a battery mounted on the battery mounting unit receive power from the flow rate detection unit. A water purifier comprising: a control unit that transmits an output signal to a display unit based on a signal; a display unit that is turned on based on an output signal from the control unit; and a reset button that resets display by the display unit to an initial display. A water purifier having a function in which the control unit detects a stop of water flow and turns off the display unit, and a function to turn on the display unit for a certain time after battery replacement and / or operation of a reset button is known. It has been.

JP 2003-094046 A

  In the case of the faucet direct-coupled water purifier having the above-described battery mounting part that serves as a power source, when it is time to replace the battery set in the battery mounting part, the battery mounting part provided in the water purifier attached to the faucet Open the cover and remove the battery set in it and replace it with a new one. At this time, the battery is replaced at the faucet position, so the replacement can be easily performed. .

  However, in the case of an under-sink type water purifier installed in a narrow storage cabinet under the sink, it is necessary to replace the battery as a power source for the calculation unit of the flow meter in the storage cabinet. The battery replacement work needs to be performed by reaching out into a dark and narrow space in the storage cabinet, which is a very complicated and time-consuming work.

  The object of the present invention is to notify an information terminal or the like of a flow meter that can eliminate this inconvenience even when it is located in a place where it is difficult to replace the battery, and the flow rate and other information from the flow meter. The purpose is to provide a flow rate reporting system.

The present invention according to claim 1 includes a main body having a fluid passage formed therein, an upstream joint provided on one end side of the main body and communicating with an inlet of the fluid passage, and on the other end side of the main body. A flowmeter with a power source, comprising: a downstream joint that communicates with an outlet of the fluid passage; a power source that supplies power; and a flow rate measuring unit that is provided from the power source to the main body. The power supply unit is configured separately from the main body, and the overall shape is substantially box-shaped, and has a power supply unit main body that is open on one side, and a lid that closes the opening of the power supply unit main body. A pair of engaging claws is provided on either one of the meter main bodies, and a locking portion for locking the engaging claws is provided on the other, so that the power supply section is detachable from the main body.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the power flow meter according to the first aspect, wherein the pair of engaging claws are erected at a predetermined interval and the claws provided at the distal end portion of the insertion piece And an operation projection provided on the outer surface of the body and both insertion pieces, and a locking portion is provided with a groove portion into which the insertion piece is inserted, and a stopper portion provided at a tip portion of the groove portion to lock the claw body. It is characterized by having.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the flowmeter with a power source according to the first or second aspect, the flow rate measuring unit rotates in the fluid passage of the main body, and the rotation of the screw with the magnet. And a flow rate calculation unit for calculating a flow rate based on the pulses of the sensors, and the flow rate calculation unit and the sensors are provided in a power supply unit. The sensors include a magnetic sensor and a reed switch.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the flowmeter with a power source according to the third aspect, the screw with a magnet is made of a synthetic resin, and the magnet is enclosed integrally.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the flowmeter with a power source according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the power supply unit further includes a communication module, and the flow rate information by the measurement unit such as a flow rate, The replacement time of the water purification filter provided with the flow meter is transmitted to the information terminal by the communication module.

  The present invention described in claim 6 is a flow rate notification system including the flow meter with power source according to claim 5 and an information terminal for receiving flow rate information transmitted from a communication module of the flow meter.

  In addition, in this invention, what supplies electricity, such as a battery other than a battery, is included as said power supply.

  The flowmeter with a power source according to the present invention is configured in a narrow storage cabinet under the sink because the power source unit storing a battery or the like has a separate structure from the main body and is detachable from the main body. Even when used in an undersink type water purifier, the power supply unit is removed from the flow meter body and taken out from the storage cabinet, and the battery can be replaced in the power supply unit in a place where the work on the sink is easy to perform. Has the advantage.

  Furthermore, according to the flowmeter with a power supply of the present application having the communication module, the flow rate of the water purifier can be transmitted to the information terminal in real time.

  Furthermore, according to the flowmeter according to claim 4 of the present invention, wherein the screw with magnet is made of synthetic resin and the magnet is integrally enclosed, it is possible to reliably prevent the magnet from getting wet by water flow. Therefore, there is a practical advantage that there is no risk of rust and corrosion of the magnet.

It is a perspective view which shows the installation condition of an undersink type water purifier. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the flowmeter with a power supply which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state before mounting | wearing with the power supply part with respect to the main body of the same flowmeter with a power supply. It is a perspective view which shows the state after mounting | wearing with the power supply part with respect to the main body of the same flowmeter with a power supply. It is a cross-sectional view in the power supply part mounting location of the same flowmeter with power supply. It is the perspective view which looked at the power supply part from the lid direction. It is the perspective view which looked at the power supply part from the engaging claw direction. It is a perspective view of a screw with a magnet in the present invention.

  Next, although embodiment of this invention is described according to drawing, this invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment relates to a flow meter 1 attached to an upper part of an undersink type water purifier J installed in a storage cabinet C under a sink S of a kitchen.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the flowmeter with power source 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a main body 2 in which a fluid passage 3 is formed, and one end side of the main body 2. An upstream joint 5 communicating with the inlet 4, a downstream joint 7 provided on the other end of the main body 2 and communicating with the outlet 6 of the fluid passage 3, a power supply unit 8 for supplying power, A flow rate measurement unit 9 provided from the power supply unit 8 to the main body 2 and a mounting unit 21 connected to the flow rate measurement unit 9 are provided. The power supply unit 8 is configured separately from the main body 2. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 8 is provided with a pair of engaging claws 11, and the main body 2 locks the engaging claws 11. A locking portion 12 is provided, and the power supply portion 8 is detachable from the main body 2.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the pair of engaging claws 11 are formed on the side surface of the main body 2 of the power supply unit 8 with the insertion piece 13 standing at a predetermined interval and the hook-like shape provided at the distal end portion of the insertion piece 13. The claw body 14 and the insertion piece 13 have an operation projection 20 provided on the outer surface of the central portion of the length, and the locking portion 12 is provided at the groove portion 10 into which the insertion piece 13 is inserted and at the tip portion of the groove portion 10. A stopper portion 15 is provided to lock the claw body 14. In more detail, the stopper 15 is installed at the most distal portion of the groove portion 10, and the opening 16 for the claw body 14 is provided between the most distal portion of the groove portion 10 and the stopper 15. Is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the flow rate measuring unit 9 includes a screw 18 with a magnet 17 that rotates in the fluid passage 3 of the main body 2, and a reed switch 19 that detects the rotation of the screw 18 with the magnet 17. And a flow rate calculation unit for calculating a flow rate based on the pulse of the reed switch 19, and the flow rate calculation unit is accommodated in the mounting unit 21, and the mounting unit 21 and the reed switch 19 are connected to the power source unit 8 as described later. Is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the screw 18 with the magnet 17 is made of synthetic resin, and is a recess 18a into which the downstream end 33a of the rotary shaft 33 rotatably supported by the inlet 4 is fitted. And a plurality of substantially spiral ridges 8b formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the magnet 17 sealed adjacent to the downstream side of the recess 8a. And the magnet 17 is hold | maintained at the said screw 18 in the state enclosed integrally by what is called insert molding at the time of the shaping | molding of the said screw 18. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, in this embodiment, the mounting unit 21 in the power supply unit 8 is provided with a communication module, and the flow rate information by the flow rate calculation unit in the mounting unit 21 is smart by the communication module. Information is transmitted to an information terminal such as a phone H. In addition to the calculated flow rate, the flow rate calculation unit may calculate the replacement time of the cartridge (not shown) of the water purifier J based on the flow rate, and transmit the information to the smart phone H or the like by the communication module. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the power supply unit 8 is generally box-shaped, and is attached to the power supply unit body 8 a via a hinge 24 and a power supply unit body 8 a that is open on the upper side. The lid 25 is provided with a fitting recess 26 having a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape at a portion of the lid 25 opposite to the hinge 24, and the fitting recess 26 is formed in the corresponding power source body 8a. The fitting convex part 27 fitted together is formed.

  In this embodiment, the substrate 28 is provided in the main body 8a of the power supply unit 8, the battery D is set on the upper side of the substrate 28, and the flow rate calculation in the flow rate measuring unit 9 described above is performed on the lower side of the substrate 28. A microcomputer according to the unit and the communication module are provided.

  A small box 31 is integrally provided below the main body 8 a of the power supply unit 8, and the reed switch 19 is accommodated in the small box 31.

  In the present embodiment, when water is passed through the fluid passage 3 in the flowmeter with power source 1, the screw 18 with the magnet 17 rotates, and the rotation is detected by the reed switch 19 through the magnet 17. At the same time, the detected value is input to the microcomputer related to the flow rate calculation unit to calculate the flow rate, and the calculated value is transmitted to the information terminal H such as a surrounding smart phone by the communication module. Further, when a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the fluid in the fluid passage 3 is provided in the main body 2 of the flow meter 1, the water temperature information is transmitted to the information terminal H together with the flow rate information. Further, the various communications described above may be performed using Bluetooth (registered trademark) beacons.

  Next, the attachment and detachment procedure of the power supply unit 8 in the flowmeter with power supply according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, in the state where the power supply unit 8 is separated from the flowmeter main body 2, By simply inserting the insertion pieces 13 of the power supply unit 8 into the groove portions 10 and sliding the insertion pieces 13 downward, as shown in FIG. As a result, the power supply unit 8 is completely mounted.

  On the other hand, when the battery D is replaced, when the power supply unit 8 is removed from the flow meter main body 2, the flow meter main body 2 of the both insertion pieces 13 can be simply pressed by pressing both the operation protrusions 20 toward the flow meter main body 2. Accordingly, the above-described claw body 14 is detached from the entrance opening 16, and the power supply unit 8 is separated from the flowmeter main body 2 by lifting the power supply unit 8 in this state.

  According to the flowmeter with a power supply according to the present invention, even if the installation place of the flowmeter is a narrow place, the battery can be easily replaced by removing the power supply unit from the main body. A wide range of usage can be expected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flowmeter with power supply 2 Flowmeter main body 3 Fluid passage 4 Inlet 5 Upper joint 6 Outlet 7 Downstream side joint 8 Power supply part 9 Flow measuring part 11 Engaging claw 12 Locking part 13 Insertion piece 14 Claw body

Claims (6)

A main body having a fluid passage formed therein; an upstream joint provided at one end of the main body and communicating with an inlet of the fluid passage; and an outlet of the fluid passage provided at the other end of the main body A flowmeter with a power source having a downstream joint communicating with the power source, a power source for supplying power, and a flow rate measuring unit provided from the power source to the main body, wherein the power source is configured separately from the main body The overall shape is substantially box-shaped, and has a power source main body that is open on one side, and a lid that closes the opening of the power source main body, and a pair of power source and flow meter main bodies A flowmeter with a power source, wherein an engaging claw is provided, and on the other side, a locking portion for locking the engaging claw is provided, and a power supply unit is detachably attached to the main body.   The pair of engaging claws has an insertion piece standing upright at a predetermined interval, a claw body provided at the tip of the insertion piece, and an operating projection provided on the outer surface of both insertion pieces. The flowmeter with a power supply according to claim 1, wherein the stopper includes a groove portion into which the insertion piece is inserted and a stopper portion that is provided at a tip portion of the groove portion and engages the claw body.   The flow rate measurement unit has a screw with a magnet that rotates in the fluid passage of the main body, sensors that detect the rotation of the screw with the magnet, and a flow rate calculation unit that calculates the flow rate based on the pulses of the sensors. The flowmeter with a power supply according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow rate calculation section and the sensors are provided in a power supply section.   The flowmeter with a power supply according to claim 3, wherein the screw with magnet is made of synthetic resin, and the magnet is integrally enclosed.   The power supply unit further includes a communication module, and the communication module transmits the flow rate information by the measurement unit such as the flow rate and the replacement time of the water purification filter provided with the flow meter to the information terminal. The flowmeter with a power supply as described in any one of Claims 4.   A flow rate notification system comprising: a flow meter with a power source according to claim 5; and an information terminal for receiving flow rate information transmitted from a communication module of the flow meter.

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