JPH06144496A - Liquid-supplying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a liquid-supplying apparatus in which working properties in the inspection of oil quantity and in supplying work is improved. CONSTITUTION:A liquid-supplying apparatus for supplying an oil feeding tank with a liquid is provided with a liquid-supplying tank such as cartridge tank to be filled with a supplying liquid, with a relay chamber 2 for freely attaching and detaching the liquid-supplying tank in which chamber an air reservoir is formed above a liquid level and the liquid level is located above the liquid level of the oil feeding tank, with an air pipe 4 for causing the air reservoir 29 of the relay chamber 2 and the oil feeding tank to communicate with each other and a liquid pipe 5 for causing the bottom of the relay chamber 2 and the oil feeding tank to communicate with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply device for supplying a liquid such as lubricating oil to an oil supply tank.
The present invention relates to a liquid replenishing device capable of improving the workability of oil amount inspection and replenishment work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for supplying lubricating oil to sliding parts of various machines and devices, a lubricating oil supply tank is provided for each machine, and automatic lubrication is performed by a pump. ing. Since the capacity of the refueling tank is limited in terms of the space of mechanical equipment and the suction capacity of the pump, a refueling tank having a capacity of 1 to 4 L is generally used, and the refueling tank usually takes 2 to 6 days. I am trying to replenish the lubricant.

Conventionally, when replenishing lubricating oil to a refueling tank, an operator checks a level gauge provided on the refueling tank and opens the refueling port of the refueling tank when replenishment becomes necessary. A lubricating aid such as an oil jug is attached to replenish the lubricating oil.

[0004]

However, if the level gauge of the refueling tank is checked and the liquid such as the lubricating oil is replenished from the refueling port by using the oil jug or the like as described above, the industrial machine equipment will be less productive. Since the refueling tank is installed in a narrow and dark place, the workability of the oil amount check and replenishment work is poor, and refueling fails and overflow from the refueling port or oil jug etc. May occur.

Also, dust, insects, etc. may adhere to the oil jug etc. used for replenishment, and these may mix in the refueling tank, causing clogging of the strainer of the refueling pump, the distribution valve, the flow unit, etc. Insufficient lubrication is likely to occur due to insufficient lubrication of the lubrication part. Furthermore, since the number of refueling tanks at each factory is large, it is difficult to perform replenishment work before the machine is started or stopped, and it is necessary to work above or below the conveyor or transfer line of a transfer machine, especially around the machine. Since it must be done, the refilling work is extremely difficult.

The present invention has been made in response to the above problems, and its object is to provide a liquid replenishing device capable of improving the workability of the oil amount check and the replenishing work. To provide.

[0007]

A liquid replenishing device of the present invention as a means for achieving the above object is a liquid replenishing device for replenishing a refueling tank with a liquid, such as a cartridge tank for replenishing the replenishing liquid. A liquid replenishing tank, a relay chamber in which the liquid replenishing tank is detachably attached, an air reservoir is formed above the liquid level, and the liquid level is located above the liquid level of the refueling tank; The relay chamber is provided with an air pipe for communicating the air reservoir of the relay chamber with the fuel tank, and a liquid pipe for communicating the bottom of the relay chamber with the fuel tank.

Further, in another liquid replenishing device of the present invention, in the above invention, a replenishing port having a built-in check valve is detachably provided in a liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank, and liquid is replenished in the relay chamber. A valve opening member is provided to open the check valve when the tank is installed.

Further, in another liquid replenishing apparatus of the present invention, in the above invention, a replenishing port having a built-in check valve is detachably provided in a liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank, and a tip end portion of the tank is a top portion in the tank. The air vent pipe whose base end faces the outside of the tank is erected, and a check valve is interposed in the air vent pipe.

[0010]

In the liquid replenishing device of the present invention, when a liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank is attached to the relay chamber and the liquid level of the refueling tank falls below an appropriate level, air flows into the air pipe to relay the liquid. The liquid in the chamber is replenished to the refueling tank via the liquid pipe, and the liquid level in the relay chamber is lowered, so that the liquid is replenished from the liquid replenishment tank to the relay chamber. Therefore, by doing this, install the relay chamber in a place with good workability,
Replenishment can be performed simply by refilling the liquid replenishment tank, and the workability of replenishment work is improved.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.
A description will be given with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are as follows.
1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid supply device, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a cartridge tank and a relay chamber of the device, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid filling device.

The liquid replenishing device of the present embodiment is summarized as follows.
A cartridge tank 1 for filling a replenishing liquid, a relay chamber 2 in which the cartridge tank 1 can be attached and detached from above, an air pipe 4 and a liquid pipe 5 which connect the relay chamber 2 and an oil supply tank 3 to each other. It consists of different configurations.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge tank 1 has a cartridge bottom 12 at the bottom of a tank case 11.
Is mounted and sealed, and a gasket (dust seal) 13 is mounted on the peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the cartridge bottom 12. Further, a filling port valve 14 also serving as a supply port is detachably attached to the center of the cartridge bottom 12, and a valve seat 15 is fitted in the filling port valve 14 and attached to the valve seat 15 side with a spring 16. Check valve 1
7 is provided.

Further, the cartridge tank 1 is provided with an air vent pipe 19 standing upright from the valve holder 18 mounted on the cartridge bottom 12, the tip of which faces the top of the tank.
A check valve 2 for restricting the inflow of air into the valve holder 18
0 is provided, and an orifice 21 is provided at the tip of the air vent pipe 19. Further, the cartridge tank 1 is provided with a liquid level gauge 22 on the side so that the liquid level inside can be confirmed, and an installation plate 23 for stabilizing the manual filling at the outside of the top, and a handle 24 used for carrying. Etc. are provided.

The relay chamber 2, as shown in FIG.
At the upper end of the cartridge base holder 25 into which the filling port valve 14 of the cartridge tank 1 is detachably inserted,
A cartridge base bracket 26 for receiving the cartridge case 11 of the cartridge tank 1 is provided, and the cartridge tank holder 1 is provided in the cartridge base holder 25.
A check valve opening / closing boss 27 serving as a valve opening member that opens the check valve 17 when the check valve 17 is mounted is provided, and the upper inner peripheral surface of the cartridge base holder 25 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the filling port valve 14. A seal ring 28 for sealing the space is fitted.

Further, an air pipe connection port 30 facing an air reservoir 29 formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge base holder 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the filling port valve 14 of the cartridge tank 1 is formed on a side portion of the cartridge base holder 25. However, a liquid pipe connection port 31 is formed at the bottom. The relay chamber 2 is arranged such that the level of the internal liquid level L1 is higher than the level of the liquid level L2 of the refueling tank 3.

The refueling tank 3 has a refueling port holder 33 on its upper surface.
A liquid level adjusting pipe 34 for adjusting the level of the internal liquid surface L2 is provided in the fuel filler holder 33 so that the vertical position can be adjusted.

The air pipe 4 has one end connected to the air pipe connection port 30 facing the air reservoir 29 of the relay chamber 2, and the other end connected to the upper end of the liquid level adjusting pipe 34 of the fuel tank 3. Connected. Also, the liquid pipe 5
Is a liquid pipe connection port 3 at the bottom of the relay chamber 2
1, and the other end is connected to the side of the liquid level adjusting pipe 34 of the fuel tank 3 and is located below the air pipe 4. In this case, the highest pipe position of the liquid pipe 5 is lower than the liquid level L1 of the relay chamber 2, and the air pipe 4 is arranged such that the upper end rising of the level adjusting pipe 34 is arranged at a position higher than the chamber liquid level. ,
After that, you can freely pipe high and low.

In the liquid replenishing apparatus of this embodiment, the cartridge tank 1 filled with the replenishing liquid is mounted in the relay chamber 2 so that the check valve opening / closing boss 27 of the relay chamber 2 prevents the cartridge tank 1 from being reversed. The valve 17 is pushed up and opened, and the replenishment liquid in the cartridge tank 1 can be supplied to the relay chamber 2.

In this state, when the liquid level L2 of the refueling tank 3 falls below the tip of the liquid level adjusting pipe 34, air flows into the liquid level adjusting pipe 34 and the liquid in the liquid level adjusting pipe 34 is refueled. The liquid in the relay chamber 2 drops into the tank 3, is sent to the refueling tank 3 by the siphon phenomenon of the liquid pipe 5, and the liquid level L1 in the relay chamber 2 starts to decrease. In this case, when there is a residual liquid in the air pipe 4, the residual liquid is sucked into the relay chamber 2 and then the air is sucked.

Then, when the liquid level L1 of the relay chamber 2 drops and falls below the lower end surface of the filling port valve 14 of the cartridge tank 1, air is sucked into the cartridge tank 1, and accordingly, from the inside of the cartridge tank 1. The replenishing liquid flows out and is supplied into the relay chamber 2, and the liquid level L1 in the relay chamber 2 is always kept constant.

In this way, the cartridge tank 1 and the relay chamber 2 continue to suck in air and flow out of the replenishing liquid, and when the liquid level L2 of the refueling tank 3 reaches the tip of the liquid level adjusting pipe 34, The inflow of air to the pipe 4 is blocked, and the replenishment to the refueling tank 3 is automatically stopped.

By repeating the above operation, the level of the liquid level L2 of the oil supply tank 3 is always kept constant. The liquid level L2 of the refueling tank 3 is the liquid level adjusting pipe 34.
When it reaches the tip end of the liquid pipe 5, the liquid is sucked up into the air pipe 4 due to the siphon phenomenon of the liquid pipe 5 and reaches the level of the liquid level L1 of the relay chamber 2. When the liquid level L2 is lowered, the liquid flows out and replenishment is started as described above.

When the replenishing liquid in the cartridge tank 1 has decreased, the empty cartridge tank 1 is removed from the relay chamber 2 and the cartridge tank 1 filled with another replenishing liquid is mounted in the relay chamber 2. Alternatively, after filling the removed cartridge tank 1, it is mounted on the relay chamber 2 again.

By the way, the replenishment liquid can be filled in the cartridge tank 1 by removing the filling port valve 14 and manually refilling it with an oil jug or the like, or automatically by using a liquid filling device described later. It can also be filled. Incidentally, when the automatic filling is not performed, the air vent pipe 19 of the cartridge tank 1 and its check valve 20 are unnecessary.

As described above, in the liquid replenishing apparatus of this embodiment, the refueling tank 3 is replenished by mounting the cartridge tank 1 in the relay chamber 2, so that the relay chamber 2 is refilled in the cartridge tank. 1 or a plurality of them are installed in a concentrated manner in a place such as a machine periphery or a passage side surface where attachment / detachment is easy, and by connecting the air pipe 4 and the liquid pipe 5 to the refueling tank 3,
Attachment / detachment of cartridge tank 1 and cartridge tank 1
It is possible to easily fill the replenishing liquid with the liquid, and the workability of the replenishing work is improved.

Further, the liquid level of the cartridge tank 1 can be easily checked, the occurrence of troubles due to lack of liquid can be reduced, and the workability of filling the cartridge tank 1 with liquid is good. Since it can be done at a place, it is possible to easily prevent foreign matter from entering the liquid, and reduce failures and filling errors. Furthermore, the number of times of replenishment is reduced by making the capacity of the cartridge tank larger than the capacity of the refueling tank.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes configurations that can be modified and implemented within the scope that does not change the gist of the present invention. Incidentally, although the present embodiment has been described with a configuration using two pipes, that is, an air pipe and a liquid pipe, in the case where the relay chamber can be arranged near the refueling tank with high and low, It may be configured to have only one piping for the purpose. Then, in this case, the pipe is provided with a continuous linear inclination, and the caliber is increased according to the viscosity of the liquid, that is, as the viscosity increases. Even in this case, the cartridge can be formed, and the replenishment work becomes easy.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cartridge tank 1 which can be filled is used.
It is also possible to use a single-use disposable cartridge tank. Such a disposable cartridge tank is
For example, a tank case is molded from cheap or renewable plastic or aluminum, and a cylindrical convex or concave portion is provided at the bottom so that a hermetic seal can be made when it is set in the relay chamber, and at the tip or inside the relay chamber A structure in which a stopper or a weak film that can be easily opened by the convex portion provided in the relay chamber when set is provided.

Further, a commercially available new oil-filled ready-made container, for example, a tank case such as a pail can or a gallon can to which a screw type or one-touch type cap is attached is used and set in the relay chamber. At times, the cap may be removed and a valve having a built-in check valve may be mounted as in the case of the filling type so that only the tank case is disposable when the cartridge tank is replaced. In addition, when using a ready-made container, there is no level gauge, and it is not possible to confirm the presence or absence of liquid from the outside.Therefore, a transparent liquid pool is provided at the lower part of the intermediate chamber at the connection part of the liquid pipe to check for the presence of residual liquid in the tank. To do.

Next, a liquid filling device for filling the above-mentioned cartridge tank 1 with the replenishing liquid will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid filling device 40 includes a cartridge filling base 41 on which the cartridge tank 1 is mounted, and an air vent circuit 42 for venting air from the cartridge tank 1.

The upper surface of the cartridge filling base 41 is flat so that it can be sealed by the gasket 13 of the cartridge tank 1, and a space 43 is formed inside the gasket 13 and between the cartridge tank 1 and the cartridge tank 1.
The filling port valve 1 of the cartridge tank 1 is provided on the inner circumference of the upper end.
4 Fit an O-ring 44 that seals with the outer peripheral surface,
A liquid inflow pipe 45 is connected to the bottom portion, is connected to a replenishing liquid tank 46, and an air vent 47 facing the space 43 is formed.

The air vent circuit 42 includes a limit switch 51 for detecting that the cartridge tank 1 is set on the cartridge filling base 41, and a vacuum connected to the air vent 47 of the cartridge filling base 41 via the gas-liquid separation tank 52. A vacuum ejector 53 for generating
A vacuum sensor 54 for detecting vacuum pressure is provided.

The gas / liquid separation tank 52 has a float switch 55 for preventing the tank from being filled up.
The vacuum ejector 53 is connected to the atmosphere via an air solenoid valve 56, an air pressure adjusting valve 57, and the like.

In this liquid replenishing device, when the cartridge tank 1 is set on the cartridge filling base 41, the limit switch 51 outputs a detection signal, whereby the vacuum ejector 53 operates to generate a vacuum, and the cartridge tank 1 Since the space 43 between the cartridge filling base 41 and the cartridge filling base 41 is evacuated, the cartridge tank 1 comes into close contact with the cartridge filling base 41 and the gasket 13 increases the degree of sealing.

After that, the check valve 20 of the air vent pipe 19 is opened by the vacuum of the space 43, so that the air in the cartridge tank 1 is sucked through the air vent pipe 19 and the inside pressure is negative. Then, the check valve 17 of the filling port valve 14 is opened, and the replenishing liquid is sucked from the replenishing liquid tank 46 through the liquid inflow pipe 45 and filled in the cartridge tank 1. It When the cartridge tank 1 is filled with the liquid and reaches the tip of the air vent pipe 19, the vacuum pressure rises due to the difference in the fluid resistance between the air and the liquid, so that the vacuum sensor 54 detects the rise in the vacuum pressure. At this time, the vacuum ejector 53 is stopped.

As a result, the negative pressure in the cartridge tank 1 disappears, the filling of the liquid is completed, and the check valves 17 and 20 are closed.
Even if the cartridge is removed from the cartridge filling base 41, the liquid inside does not flow out.

The liquid sucked into the air vent pipe 19 or the vacuum pipe is separated into gas and liquid in the gas-liquid separation tank 52, and the float switch 55 is activated when the amount of liquid in the gas-liquid separation tank 52 increases. Then, by issuing a warning or automatically stopping the air vent, the liquid is prevented from flowing into the vacuum equipment. In addition, when liquid remains in the air vent pipe, the vacuum pressure may rise immediately after the start of filling. This is due to the use of a timer or the like that invalidates the detection result of the vacuum sensor for a predetermined time after the start of filling. It can be avoided by providing means.

In addition, in the automatic filling of the cartridge tank, not only the vacuum pressure but also the liquid is filled by the pump or the air pressure, and the pressure sensor detects the fluid resistance difference of the air vent pipe by the applied pressure to stop the filling. You can also Furthermore, although an orifice is provided at the tip of the air vent pipe, the point is to increase the fluid resistance difference between the air and liquid flowing through the pipe, and the same effect can be achieved even if a thin pipe is used. Is.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the cartridge tank is used as the liquid replenishing tank, but it goes without saying that various other tanks may be used.
The pail can adapter is shown in FIG.

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the liquid replenishing device of the present invention, the relay chamber for mounting the liquid replenishing tank such as the cartridge tank for replenishing the replenishing liquid is attached / detached to / from the liquid replenishing tank. Since it can be installed in an easy place, it is possible to easily attach and detach the liquid replenishment tank and fill the liquid replenishment tank with the replenishment liquid, and improve the workability of the replenishment work. It is easy to check the liquid level of the liquid supply tank, which can reduce the occurrence of troubles due to lack of liquid, and can easily prevent foreign matter from entering the liquid, reducing failures and filling errors. It also has the effect of decreasing.

Further, according to the liquid replenishing device of the present invention, a replenishing port having a built-in check valve is detachably provided in the liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank, and the tip end faces the inner top of the tank. An air vent pipe whose end faces the outside of the tank is erected, and by installing a check valve in this air vent pipe, the internal air is vented through the air vent pipe to suck up the filling liquid by negative pressure, The filling operation can be automatically stopped due to the difference in fluid resistance, and the efficiency of the filling operation can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid supply device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed partial cross-sectional view of a cartridge tank and a relay chamber of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid filling device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an adapter for a pail can.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Cartridge tank 2 ... Relay chamber 3 ... Refueling tank 4 ... Air pipe 5 ... Liquid pipe 11 ... Tank case 14 ... Filling port valve (replenishing port) 17 ... Check valve 19 ... Air vent pipe 20 ... Check valve 27 ... Check valve opening / closing boss 40 ... Liquid filling device 41 ... Cartridge filling base 42 ... Air venting circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid replenishing device for replenishing a refueling tank with a liquid, wherein a liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank for replenishing the replenishing liquid and the liquid replenishing tank are detachably attached to the inside of the liquid above the liquid surface. A relay chamber in which a sump is formed and the liquid level is located above the liquid level of the refueling tank; an air pipe for communicating the air sump of the relay chamber with the refueling tank; and the bottom of the relay chamber, A liquid replenishing device comprising a liquid pipe communicating with the fuel tank. 2. A liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank is detachably provided with a refilling port having a built-in check valve, and a relay chamber has a valve opening member for opening the check valve when the tank is mounted. The liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, which is provided. 3. A liquid replenishing tank such as a cartridge tank is provided with a replenishing port with a built-in check valve in a detachable manner, and an air vent pipe whose front end faces the inner top of the tank and whose base end faces the outer side of the tank. The liquid replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid replenishing device is provided upright and a check valve is interposed in the air vent pipe.