JP7135072B2 - Water level detectors, devices with water level detectors, and floats - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a water level detection device or the like that detects the water level of a liquid based on the vertical position of a float that floats as the water level rises.

2. Description of the Related Art A device for detecting the water level of a tank that stores liquid is conventionally known. For example, Patent Document 1 below describes a conventional technique in which a float is placed in a water receiving tank that stores dehumidified water, and when the dehumidified water reaches a full level, the float rises to turn off the full water switch. , and dehumidifiers which thereby shut down the operation of the compressor.

A technique for detecting the water level using a magnet has also been known. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a float used for water level detection using a magnet. The float 500 shown in FIG. 6 is generally columnar as a whole and hollow inside. A rail fitting portion 501 and a magnet 502 are arranged on one side surface of the float 500 . The rail fitting portion 501 is configured to fit into a guide rail provided on the wall surface of the tank in which the float 500 is arranged. to move up and down in the tank. Note that the configuration for restricting the lateral movement of the float 500 is not limited to the rail fitting portion 501 and the guide rail.

A water level detection device can be configured by combining the float 500 and a detection unit that detects the magnetic field generated by the magnet 502 . In this water level detection device, the detection section is arranged at a position facing the magnet 502 outside the tank. As the water level in the tank rises, the float 500 floats and the magnet 502 moves away from the detection unit, so that the detection unit can detect that the float 500 has floated beyond the detection range of the detection unit. This makes it possible to detect that the tank is full.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication "JP-A-4-257647 (published on September 11, 1992)"

When manufacturing a product equipped with a water level detection device, it may be necessary to change the water level to be detected due to changes in product specifications or the like. Conventionally, in such a case, there was a problem that a large-scale change such as changing the structure of the float to a completely new one or changing the arrangement of the detection unit was required.

One aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to realize a water level detection device or the like that can easily cope with changes in the detected water level.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a water level detection device according to an aspect of the present invention detects when a liquid reaches a predetermined level by detecting a vertical position of a float that moves up and down in conjunction with the level of the liquid. In the water level detection device, the side surface of the float is formed with an opening for introducing the liquid into the internal space of the float, and the opening extends from the bottom of the float to the height of the float. The slit is provided so as to be cut up in the direction, and the slit is provided so as to be cut up to near the center of the float in the height direction .

In order to solve the above problems, a float according to one aspect of the present invention is a float used by a water level detection device to detect that a liquid has reached a predetermined water level, the water level detection device comprising: The water level is detected based on the vertical position of the float that moves up and down in conjunction with the water level of the liquid, and the side surface of the float has an opening through which the liquid is introduced into the internal space of the float. The opening is a slit provided so as to cut up from the bottom of the float in the height direction of the float , and the slit is provided so as to cut up to near the center of the float in the height direction. It is

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily cope with changes in the detected water level.

It is a perspective view of the float with which the water level detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a figure which shows the structure of the said float. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the dehumidifier provided with the said water level detection apparatus. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the depth of a slit, and the amount of water by which a full water level is detected. It is a figure which shows the structure of the float with which the water level detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is provided. It is a figure which shows a prior art, and is a figure which shows the example of the float used for the water level detection using a magnet.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

[Schematic configuration of the float]
Details will be described in sequence below, but the water level detection device according to this embodiment detects that the liquid has reached a predetermined level based on the vertical position of the float that moves up and down in conjunction with the level of the liquid. It is a device that First, the schematic configuration of the float will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the float.

The float 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a generally quadrangular prism shape as a whole. However, the four side surfaces of the float 1 are connected by curved surfaces. The inside of the float 1 is hollow so that the float 1 floats on the liquid. An example in which the predetermined water level is the full water level, that is, an example in which it is detected that the water in the tank is full will be described below. The liquid whose level is to be detected by the float 1 is not particularly limited. The float 1 can also be used to detect water levels other than the full water level, such as the lower water level.

A rail fitting portion 11 is provided on one side surface of the float 1 . Note that this side surface is the back surface of the float 1 . The rail fitting portion 11 generally extends from the top to the bottom of the float 1 along the height direction of the float 1 . Although the details will be described later with reference to FIG. 3, the rail fitting portion 11 is configured to fit with a guide rail provided on the wall surface of the tank on which the float 1 is arranged. As a result, the float 1 moves up and down within the tank along the guide rails according to changes in the water level within the tank. Note that the configuration for guiding the vertical movement of the float 1 is not limited to the rail fitting portion 11 and the guide rails. For example, by providing a projecting portion on the tank side and providing a receiving portion fitted to the projecting portion on the float 1, the vertical movement of the float 1 is guided (prevents the float 1 from moving in the horizontal direction). good too. Further, for example, the float 1 may be provided with a member for restricting the movement of the float 1 in directions other than the vertical direction (movement in the horizontal and depth directions) without providing a structure for guiding.

A magnet 12 is fixed to the one side surface where the rail fitting portion 11 is provided. Although the details will be described later with reference to FIG. 3, the water level detection device according to the present embodiment detects that the tank is full by detecting the magnetic field generated by the magnet 12 . Note that the magnet 12 may be provided inside the outer surface of the float 1 (for example, on the inner surface or inside the side wall of the float 1).

Slits 13 are formed on the other side surfaces of the float 1 (two surfaces perpendicular to the surface on which the rail fitting portion 11 and the magnets 12 are provided). The slit 13 is provided to adjust the buoyancy of the float 1. The slit 13 in the example of FIG. 1 is an isosceles trapezoidal opening that extends from the bottom of the float 1 to near the center of the float 1 in the height direction.

Although details will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the float 1 has an open bottom and slits 13 formed on the side surfaces. As a result, when the float 1 is floated on water, the internal space of the float 1 (the space between the bottom and the top of the float 1 and surrounded by the sides of the float 1 on the sides) extends from the bottom and the slit 13 . water enters the That is, the float 1 has a gap formed by the slit 13 into which water enters, and no buoyancy is generated from this gap.

Therefore, by providing the slit 13 , the buoyant force applied to the float 1 can be made extremely small in a state where the water level is below the upper end of the slit 13 . When the water level exceeds the upper end of the slit 13, the buoyant force applied to the float 1 increases and the float 1 floats because air is accumulated above the slit 13 in the internal space of the float 1.例文帳に追加

Therefore, compared to the float 500 of FIG. 6 in which the slit 13 is not provided, the draft of the float 1 is deepened and the position of the float 1 in the vertical direction is lowered. The draft of the float 1 is the depth of the portion submerged in the liquid when the float 1 is floated on the liquid. The draft of the float 1 can also be said to be the linear distance from the bottom of the float 1 to the liquid surface when the float 1 is floating on the liquid.

In addition, the float 1 is designed so that the depth of the slit 13 (the depth of the cut in the height direction of the float 1) is made shallower, so that the draft is made shallower and the vertical position of the float 1 is reduced. can be made higher. Conversely, by changing the design so that the depth of the slit 13 is deeper, the draft can be made deeper and the vertical position of the float 1 can be made lower.

Since the vertical position of the float 1 is the basis for water level detection, the water level at which full water level is detected can be changed by changing the vertical position of the float 1 at the time of flooding. Specifically, by making the vertical position of the float 1 higher, the water level at which full water is detected can be made lower. can be higher. This will be described later with reference to FIG.

In this way, the float 1 can be made higher or lower in the water level at which full water is detected simply by changing the design of the slit 13 to be deeper or shallower. That is, since the water level detection device according to the present embodiment uses the float 1, it is possible to change the water level at which the full water level is detected by a simple design change.

[Detailed configuration of the float]
A more detailed configuration of the float 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the float 1. As shown in FIG. 1A is a rear view of the float 1, FIG. 1B is a right side view, and FIG. 1C is a bottom view.

As shown in (a) of the figure, the back surface of the float 1 (the surface facing the guide rail provided on the wall surface of the tank) has a vertically long rectangular shape. A rail fitting portion 11 and a magnet 12 are provided on the rear surface of the float 1 . In the illustrated example, the magnet 12 is in the shape of a vertically elongated thin rectangular parallelepiped. The magnets 12 need only be provided so as not to hinder the movement of the float 1 along the guide rails. The shape and arrangement of the magnet 12 are arbitrary. Although not shown, the front shape of the float 1 is the same as the rear shape except that the rail fitting portion 11 and the magnet 12 are not provided.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the right side of the float 1 has a vertically long rectangular shape, and a slit 13 is formed extending from the central portion of the base to the central portion in the height direction. Although not shown, the left side view of the float 1 is a left-right reversed view of the right side. That is, slits 13 having the same shape are provided on both side surfaces of the float 1 so as to face each other. Therefore, when the float 1 is floated on water, water enters below the line L1 at the upper end of the slit 13 in the internal space of the float 1, and air is accumulated above the line L1.

It should be noted that the shape of the slits 13 and the number and positions of the slits 13 on the side surface of the float 1 are arbitrary. For example, slits may be provided on the front and back of the float 1, or only one slit may be provided on the side of the float 1. However, it is preferable that the slits are provided on each of the facing surfaces of the float 1 so that the float 1 can move up and down stably, and that each slit has the same depth.

As shown in (c) of the figure, the bottom surface of the float 1 is in the shape of a horizontally long rectangle. As shown, the bottom of the float 1 is open, and when the float 1 is floated on water, water enters the internal space of the float 1 through the bottom (and the slits 13). The interior of the float 1 may be a cavity that is continuous from the bottom to the top of the float 1, or a partition plate may be provided above the upper end of the slit 13 (for example, the position of the line L1 in FIG. 2(b)). may be provided. By providing the partition plate, water does not enter above the partition plate, so that the float 1 can be stably moved up and down. When a partition plate is provided, a partition plate separate from the float 1 may be combined with the float 1, or the partition plate and the float 1 may be integrally formed. Also, as shown in FIG. 1C, the rail fitting portion 11 is T-shaped when viewed from below, and the T-shaped portion is fitted to the guide rail.

[Water level detection by float]
Water level detection by the float 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the dehumidifier 100 according to this embodiment. A dehumidifier 100 includes a tank housing portion 2 , a tank 3 , and a water level detection device 4 . A guide rail 31 is arranged inside the tank 3 , and the float 1 is connected to the guide rail 31 via a rail fitting portion 11 . The water level detection device 4 includes a float 1 and a detection section 41 . In addition, in FIG. 3, the configuration that is not directly related to water level detection (configuration for dehumidification, etc.) is omitted from the illustration, and the configuration that is directly related to water level detection is shown in a larger size.

The tank housing portion 2 detachably houses the tank 3 . Also, the tank 3 stores water generated by dehumidification by the dehumidifier 100 . Then, the water level detector 4 detects that the tank 3 is full. The detector 41 detects a magnetic field generated by the magnet 12 , and may be a Hall element, a reed switch, or the like, for example. The detection unit 41 may be arranged at a position where it can detect the magnetic field generated by the magnet 12 . In the example of FIG. 3, the detector 41 is arranged outside the side wall of the tank accommodating portion 2 and facing the float 1 across the side wall.

In the example of (a) of FIG. 3, the water level in the tank 3 is A1. Since the water level A1 has not reached the upper end of the slit 13 and the buoyancy acting on the float 1 is small, the bottom of the float 1 is in contact with the bottom of the tank 3 . In this state, the magnet 12 is positioned in front of the detector 41, and the distance between the magnet 12 and the detector 41 is D1.

When the water level in the tank 3 rises and exceeds the upper end of the slit 13 , the buoyant force acting on the float 1 increases and the float 1 floats on the water in the tank 3 . Then, the float 1 floating on the water moves vertically upward along the guide rail 31 by the amount corresponding to the increase in water level.

In the example of FIG. 3(b), the water level in the tank 3 is A2, and the float 1 is floating on the water. The depth of the draft of the float 1 is B, and the distance from the water surface to the center position of the magnet 12 is C. Since the position of the float 1 has risen, the distance between the magnet 12 and the detection unit 41 is increased to D2 as compared with the example shown in FIG.

When this distance D2 exceeds the limit distance at which the detection unit 41 can detect the magnetic field of the magnet 12, the detection unit 41 outputs a signal indicating that the predetermined magnetic field cannot be detected. For this reason, the arrangement of the detection unit 41, the detection sensitivity of the detection unit 41, and the slit 13 are arranged so that the detection unit 41 exceeds the limit distance at which the detection unit 41 can detect the magnetic field of the magnet 12 when the water level of the tank 3 becomes full. The depth, arrangement of the magnets 12, etc. are adjusted in advance. Thereby, the water level detection device 4 can detect that the water level of the tank 3 is full.

The process performed by the dehumidifier 100 when the water level is detected is not particularly limited. For example, when the water level detection device 4 detects that the water level is full, the dehumidifier 100 temporarily suspends dehumidification so that the water level in the tank 3 does not rise any further. You may perform the process etc. which notify to automatically.

In addition, instead of providing the slit 13, the part of the float 1 below the magnet 12 may be shortened and the height of the float 1 may be changed to lower the water surface when the float 1 is floated on the liquid. to the magnet 12 can be shortened. However, if the overall height of the float 1 is lowered, the distance between the magnet 12 and the detector 41 increases when the tank 3 is empty or when the water level is low. There is a risk that the water level may be mistakenly detected as full. In order to prevent such erroneous detection, it is necessary to change the design of the detector 41, the arrangement of the magnet 12, and the like, which increases the cost required for the design change. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the distance from the water surface to the magnet 12 by providing the slit 13 and changing the depth of the draft without changing the height of the float 1 .

[Depth of slit and water level to detect full water level]
By changing the design of the float 1 to make the depth of the slit 13 (the depth of the cut in the height direction of the float 1) shallower, the water level at which full water level is detected can be made lower. In addition, the float 1 can be designed to have a higher water level at which full water level is detected by designing the slit 13 to have a deeper depth. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of full-water detection by floats 1A and 1B having slit depths different from that of the float 1. As shown in FIG.

The float 1A shown in FIG. 4(a) differs from the float 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the slit 13 is replaced with a slit 13A. The slit 13A is a slit shallower than the slit 13. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the draft of the float 1A is shallower than that of the float 1. As a result, the distance between the magnet 12 and the detector 41 becomes D2 at a water level A3 which is shallower than the water level A2 in FIG. 3B.

In this way, by changing the design of the slit to be shallower, the water level at which full water is detected can be lowered without changing the position of the detection unit 41, the position of the magnet 12, or the like. Also, since the height of the float 1A is the same as that of the float 1, it is not erroneously detected that the tank 3 is full when it is empty or when the water level is low.

On the other hand, the float 1B shown in FIG. 4(b) differs from the float 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the slit 13 is replaced with a slit 13B. The slit 13B is a slit deeper than the slit 13 . Therefore, the draft of the float 1B is deeper than the draft of the float 1B. As a result, the distance between the magnet 12 and the detector 41 becomes D2 at the water level A4, which is deeper than the water level A2 in FIG. 3B.

In this way, by changing the design of the slit to be deeper, the water level at which full water is detected can be increased without changing the position of the detection unit 41, the position of the magnet 12, or the like. Moreover, since the height of the float 1B is the same as that of the float 1, it is not erroneously detected that the tank 3 is full when the tank 3 is empty or when the water level is low.

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the invention are described below. For convenience of description, members having the same functions as those of the members described in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the opening provided on the side surface of the float for introducing water into the internal space of the float is not a slit but a hole. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the float 1C according to this embodiment. (a) is a right side view of the float 1C, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a left side view, and (d) is a bottom view. The water level detection device of this embodiment has the same configuration as the above embodiment except that the float 1 (or the floats 1A and 1B) is changed to the float 1C.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 2, the back shape of the float 1C is the same as the back shape of the float 1 of the above embodiment (see (a) of FIG. 2). The difference between the float 1C and the float 1 is that, as shown in FIGS. , the bottom surface of the float 1C is closed. In the example of FIG. 5, the hole 15 has a rectangular shape, but the hole 15 may be of any shape, arrangement, number, etc., as long as it can introduce water into the internal space of the float 1C. .

The hole portion 15 is a through hole, and when the float 1C is floated on water, the hole portion 15 is a through hole, and when the float 1C is floated on water, the inside space of the float 1C is below the line L2 at the upper end of the hole portion 15. Water enters and air is accumulated above the line L1. Therefore, the float 1C can change the water level at which full water is detected simply by changing the design of the height from the upper end to the lower end of the hole portion 15 .

[Float manufacturing method]
The float 1 described in Embodiment 1 may be a resin molded product. In this case, it is preferable to prepare a mold for molding the part other than the slit 13 and a mold for forming the slit 13 and combine them to manufacture the float 1 . When the float 1 is manufactured by such a combination of molds, when it becomes necessary to change the full water level to be detected due to a change in the specification of the dehumidifier 100, etc., the float with the changed depth of the slit 13 can be manufactured at low cost. can be manufactured. For example, when it is desired to lower the full water level to be detected, if the mold for forming the slit 13 is changed to the mold for forming the slit 13A (see (a) of FIG. 4), parts other than the slit 13 can be molded. The float 1A can be manufactured by using the mold of . Similarly, by changing the mold for forming the slit 13, the float 1B and the float 1C can be manufactured.

[Modification]
The configuration of the float 1 described in the above embodiment is merely one embodiment of the float according to the present invention, and can be modified and changed as appropriate. The same is true for floats 1A-1C. For example, the outer shape of the float 1 may be other shapes such as a cylindrical shape. Moreover, the material of the float 1 is also arbitrary.

Furthermore, the float 1 may be configured by combining a plurality of members. For example, the float may have a configuration in which a filling member such as expanded polystyrene is incorporated inside the cage-shaped outer frame. In this case, the filling member is incorporated in the upper portion of the space inside the outer frame, and the lower portion is left as a gap. As a result, water enters the internal space of the float (the portion where the filling member does not exist) through the opening of the outer frame, so that the float behaves in the same manner as when the slit 13 is provided.

Moreover, the method of detecting the water level is not limited to the method using a magnet. For example, the water level may be detected by a configuration in which a physical switch is pressed by a float that rises as the water level rises to turn it on. Alternatively, for example, the water level may be detected by detecting the float with a device such as a distance measuring sensor. In this case, the water level may be detected by placing a range sensor (for example, an infrared range sensor) vertically above the float and measuring the distance to the top surface of the float. When using a distance sensor, it is not impossible to directly measure the distance to the surface of the water, but it is assumed that accurate measurement may not be possible due to shaking or dirt on the water. For this reason, when using a distance measuring sensor, the above configuration for detecting the distance to the upper surface of the float is preferable.

In the above embodiment, the dehumidifier 100 is used as the device provided with the water level detection device 4. However, the water level detection device 4 is a device provided with a tank for storing liquid, and the liquid is a predetermined amount. It can be applied to any device that needs to detect when the water level is reached.

〔summary〕
A water level detection device (4) according to aspect 1 of the present invention detects that a liquid has reached a predetermined level based on the vertical position of a float (1) that moves up and down in conjunction with the level of the liquid. In the water level detection device, the side surface of the float is formed with an opening (slit 13/hole 15) for introducing the liquid into the internal space of the float.

According to the above configuration, the side surface of the float is formed with an opening for introducing the liquid into the internal space of the float. Liquid enters. Since the buoyant force does not act on the float from the part where the liquid enters, the draft can be deepened and the vertical position of the float can be lowered by providing an opening with a shape and arrangement that allows more liquid to enter. Conversely, by providing openings that are shaped and arranged to allow less liquid to enter, the draft can be made shallower and the vertical position of the float can be increased.

As described above, according to the above configuration, the vertical position of the float can be changed when the float is floated on the liquid at the same water level simply by adjusting the shape and arrangement of the openings. Since the vertical position of the float is the basis for detecting the water level, the above configuration can easily cope with changes in the water level to be detected.

In the water level detection device according to aspect 2 of the present invention, in aspect 1, the opening may be a slit (13/13A/13B) formed vertically from the bottom of the float.

According to the above configuration, since the slit is formed in the vertical direction from the bottom of the float, the liquid enters the internal space of the float through the slit. Since the liquid enters up to the vicinity of the upper end of the slit, according to the above configuration, by adjusting the depth of the slit, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the water level to be detected. Specifically, by making the slit deeper, the water level to be detected can be made higher, and by making the slit shallower, the water level to be detected can be made lower.

A device according to aspect 3 of the present invention is a device comprising the above water level detection device, comprising a storage portion (tank 3) for storing liquid, and the water level detection device detects that the liquid in the storage portion reaches a predetermined water level. It is detected that According to the device of this mode, the same effects as those of the above mode 1 can be obtained.

A float according to aspect 4 of the present invention is a float used by a water level detection device to detect that a liquid has reached a predetermined water level, wherein the water level detection device moves up and down in conjunction with the water level of the liquid. The water level is detected based on the vertical position of the float, and the side surface of the float is formed with an opening through which the liquid is introduced into the internal space of the float. According to the float of this aspect, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims, and can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

1 float 13 slit (opening)
15 hole (opening)
3 tank (reservoir)
4 Water level detection device 1A to 1C Float 13A, 13B Slit (opening)

Claims (4)

A water level detection device for detecting that a liquid has reached a predetermined level based on the vertical position of a float that moves up and down in conjunction with the level of the liquid,
An opening for introducing the liquid into the internal space of the float is formed on the side surface of the float,
The opening is a slit that extends from the bottom of the float in the height direction of the float ,
The water level detection device, wherein the slit is provided so as to cut up to the vicinity of the center in the height direction of the float . 2. The water level detection device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined water level is a water level at which a full water level is detected. A device comprising the water level detection device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
comprising a reservoir for reserving liquid,
A device, wherein the water level detection device detects when the liquid in the reservoir reaches a predetermined level. The water level detection device is a float used to detect that the liquid has reached a predetermined level,
The water level detection device detects the water level based on the vertical position of the float that moves up and down in conjunction with the level of the liquid,
An opening for introducing the liquid into the internal space of the float is formed on the side surface of the float,
The opening is a slit that extends from the bottom of the float in the height direction of the float ,
The float, wherein the slit is provided so as to extend up to the vicinity of the center in the height direction of the float.

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