JPH0517169Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of spraying agent in a spraying agent tank in a backpack-powered spreader, etc. The present invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of water.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional devices for detecting the remaining amount of spraying agent (including liquids such as chemical solutions) in the spraying agent tank of a power backpack sprayer and the like are listed below.

(1) A float that floats on the surface of the chemical solution is provided, and the height of this float is detected mechanically or electrically via a lever, etc., and displayed mechanically or electrically.

(2) Electrically detect and display reflected and transmitted waves of incident waves such as lasers, infrared rays, and ultrasonic waves.

(3) Contact sensors such as vibration sensors and piezoelectric elements,
In addition, the presence or absence of the spraying agent is electrically detected and displayed using a capacitance sensor that detects changes in dielectric constant.

(4) The remaining amount of chemical solution is electrically detected from the amount of light transmitted and displayed (eg, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 11977/1983).

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

With the exception of mechanical detection devices that use floats, all of these conventional remaining amount detection devices require a power source, and in order to secure and maintain the power supply, the devices become complicated and large, and management becomes difficult. becomes troublesome. In addition, mechanical detection devices using floats suffer from wear, corrosion, swelling, etc. of mechanical operating parts, which is disadvantageous in terms of durability and reliability.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of a spray agent tank, which can omit mechanical operating parts and power sources that cause various problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

According to the device for detecting the remaining amount of a spraying agent tank of this invention, one end of the optical fiber is placed at different heights in the spraying agent tank to form the detection section, and the other end of the optical fiber is placed at different heights in the spraying agent tank. A detection unit is configured by having one end of the optical fiber facing each different height within the spray agent tank which is arranged in a line in the order of the height of one end to constitute the display unit on the outside, and the other end of the optical fiber is Outside the spray agent tank, they are arranged in a line in the order of the height of the one end to form a display section, and the detection section and the display section include a condensing lens and a magnifying lens in front of the end of the optical fiber. The present invention proposes a residual amount detecting device for a spraying agent tank, which is characterized in that the spraying agent tank is provided with a spraying agent tank.

[Effect]

The color or intensity of the light entering one end of the optical fiber at the sensing station is different depending on the presence or absence of dispersant at each level of the sensing station. Light entering one end of the optical fiber is guided to the other end of the optical fiber,
In other words, it is guided to the display section. As a result, the light at the other end of each optical fiber in the display section reflects the color, intensity, etc. of the light that entered one end of the detection section. In this way, a light line of a length corresponding to the level of the spreading agent in the spreading agent tank appears on the display, which indicates the amount of spreading agent remaining in the spreading agent tank.

〔Example〕

This invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall structural diagram of a backpack power spreader 10 equipped with a residual amount detection device according to this invention.
The backpack power spreader 10 is equipped with a blower 12 at the bottom, and the blower 12 has a fan case 14 made of resin.
and an impeller 16 disposed within the fan case 14 and driven by an engine (not shown);
It has a scroll-shaped ventilation passage 18 formed outside the impeller 16 in the radial direction. The bent pipe 20 is rotatably coupled to the fan case 14 so as to communicate with the downstream end of the ventilation passage 18, and has a discharge port 22. A jet head (not shown) is connected to the downstream end of the bent pipe 20. The spraying agent tank 24 is made of a translucent and light-transmitting resin as used in general power sprayers, and is placed and fixed on the upper part of the fan case 14.
Powdered and granular dispersing agents 26 are accommodated therein. The shutter 28 is disposed at the outlet of the lower part of the spray agent tank 24 so as to be swingable by manual operation.
Adjust the flow rate. The pressurizing passage 30 is formed in the fan case 14 , branches from the middle of the ventilation passage 18 , and reaches an opening at the bottom of the spray agent tank 24 . The pressurizing pipe 32 extends in the vertical direction and introduces the pressurized air in the ventilation passage 18 into the space in the spraying agent tank 24 above the spraying agent 26. The discharge pipe 34 made of resin is disposed inside the fan case 14, and communicates with the outlet at the bottom of the spray agent tank 24 at its upper end.
It opens near the bent pipe 20 at the lower end and guides the spraying agent 26 toward the bent pipe 20.

Pressurized air is generated in the air passage 18 by the rotation of the impeller 16, and this pressurized air is sent to the discharge port 22 through the air passage 18, and a part of the pressurized air flows through the pressurized pipe 32. The spraying agent 26 is guided to the upper part of the spraying agent tank 24 through the spraying agent tank 24 to press the spreading agent 26 below the shutter 28.
0 to the opening in the lower part of the spraying agent tank 24 , the spraying agent 26 is then entrained into the discharge pipe 34 .
As a result, the spraying agent 26 is transferred to the discharge port 22 by the pressurized air.
It is pumped from

The detection section 36 is disposed inside the spraying agent tank 24 and extends in the height direction, the display section 38 is arranged outside the spraying agent tank 24, and the optical fiber bundle 40 is arranged inside the spraying agent tank 24. It penetrates through the wall of and connects the detection section 36 and the display section 38.

FIG. 2 is a detailed structural diagram of the detection section 36. The support column 42 has its lower end fixed to the lower part of the spray agent tank 24 and extends in the height direction. Optical fiber bundle 40
further consists of a plurality of optical fiber bundles 44 (in the figure, each optical fiber bundle 44 is depicted as one optical fiber for the sake of simplicity. In fact, the optical fiber bundle 44 is depicted as one optical fiber). ), each optical fiber bundle 44
consists of a bundle of multiple optical fibers, and the wire 46
It is tied to the support column 42 and bent horizontally at the end. The ends of each optical fiber bundle 44 bent at right angles in the horizontal direction are arranged at appropriate intervals in the height direction.
They are usually arranged at equal intervals.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a condensing convex lens 48 as a condensing lens is arranged in front of the end of the optical fiber bundle 44 of the detection unit 36 shown in FIG. It is fixed to the tip of the optical fiber bundle 44 via a shaped fixture 50. The light traveling in the horizontal direction inside the spray agent tank 24 is refracted by the condensing convex lens 48, and is reflected by the optical fiber bundle 4.
It is collected at the tip of 4. As a result, even if the light inside the spray agent tank 24 is weak, the light intensified by the condensing convex lens 48 can be sent to the display section 38 by the optical fiber bundle 44.

FIG. 4 is a detailed structural diagram of the display section 38. The optical fiber bundle 44 has its distal end bent at a right angle within the case 52, and these distal ends are arranged in a line in the case 52 in order of height at the detection section 36. The part of the case 52 facing the tip of the optical fiber bundle 44 is a convex magnifying lens 54 as a magnifying lens, and when the tip of the optical fiber bundle 44 is viewed from outside the case 52 through the convex magnifying lens 54, the optical fiber The tip of the bundle 44 appears enlarged, making it easier to identify the light at the tip of the fiber optic bundle 44.

In such a remaining amount detection device, the detection unit 36
The color or intensity of the light entering one end of the fiber optic bundle 44 at each height of the detector 36 is determined by
The difference is related to the presence or absence of 6. The light that passes through the spray agent tank 24, enters the spray agent tank 24, is captured by the condensing convex lens 48, and enters one end of the optical fiber bundle 44 constitutes the optical fiber bundle 44. It is guided by an optical fiber and sent to the other end of the optical fiber bundle 44, that is, the display section 38. The light at the other end of each optical fiber bundle 44 in the display section 38 reflects the color, intensity, etc. of the light that entered one end in the detection section 36. thus,
The light from the end of the optical fiber bundle 44 on the display section 38 side, whose end on the detection section 36 side is present at a location where the dispersion agent 26 is present, and the detection section 36 at a location where the dispersion agent 26 is not present.
Display section 38 of the optical fiber bundle 44 where the side end is present
A contrast occurs with the light at the side edges, and a light line appears on the display 38 with a length corresponding to the level of the spraying agent 26 in the spraying agent tank 24.

FIGS. 5a and 5b are a front view and a side view of a modified example of the detection unit 36. FIG. The optical fiber bundle 40 consists of a plurality of optical fibers 56 arranged in a line when viewed from the side and adjacent to each other fixed to each other. Each optical fiber 56 extends in the height direction and is bent at right angles in the horizontal direction at its tip, and the tips of the optical fibers 56 are arranged in a line diagonally with respect to the height direction when viewed from the front. Detection unit 3 in Fig. 2
6, the tips of each optical fiber bundle 44 are spaced apart in the height direction, so that the dispersing agent 26 in the dispersing agent tank 24
However, in the detection unit 36 shown in FIG. 5, the tips of the optical fibers 56 are lined up continuously in the height direction, so that
The level of dispersant 26 within 4 can be continuously detected.

FIGS. 6a and 6b are a front view and a side view of another modified example of the detection unit 36. FIG. In FIG. 6, the optical fiber bundle 40 includes a plurality of optical fibers 5 arranged in a line when viewed from the front and adjacent to each other fixed to each other.
It consists of 6. Each optical fiber 56 extends in the height direction and is bent at a right angle in the horizontal direction at its tip, and the tips of the optical fibers 56 are arranged in a line parallel to the height direction when viewed from the front. This detection unit 36 can also continuously detect the level of the spraying agent 26 in the spraying agent tank 24.

[Effect of idea]

Thus, according to this invention, one end of each optical fiber is placed at different heights in the spray agent tank, and the light entering one end is guided by the optical fiber to the other end of the optical fiber, and the spray agent is A light array having a length corresponding to the remaining amount level of the spraying agent in the tank can be displayed on the display section. This invention does not require a mechanical operating part or a power source to detect the remaining amount of spraying agent in the spraying agent tank.
It is possible to improve reliability and durability, and to simplify the device and facilitate maintenance. By arranging the ends of the optical fibers in a line in the display section, the display can be displayed continuously and the level of the spraying agent in the spraying agent tank can be accurately grasped. Since the light is focused and magnified, the remaining amount can be easily checked even when the light is weak, such as in the morning or evening.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings relate to an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 1 is an overall structural diagram of a backpack power spreader equipped with a residual amount detection device, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the detection part, and Fig. 3 is a detailed diagram of the detection part. 4 is a detailed structural diagram of the display section, FIGS. 5 a and b are front and side views of a modified example of the detecting section, and FIGS. 6 a and b are front views of another modified example of the detecting section. FIG. 2 is a diagram and a side view. 24... Spraying agent tank, 36... Detection unit, 38
. . . Display section, 40 . . . Optical fiber bundle.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) One end of the optical fiber is placed at different heights within the spraying agent tank to form a detection unit, and the other end of the optical fiber is located outside the spraying agent tank. The optical fibers are arranged in a line in the order of the height of the one end to form a display section, and the detection section and the display section are each provided with a condensing lens and a magnifying lens in front of the end of the optical fiber. A residual amount detection device for a spray agent tank, which is characterized by: (2) The remaining amount detection device for a spray agent tank according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that in the detection section and the display section, one ends of the optical fibers are arranged adjacently in a straight line. .